TORONTO - -Precautionary X-rays taken on Brian Roberts' left leg came out negative, though the Orioles' leadoff man could still miss a few games with a bruised shin.
Roberts was removed from the Orioles' 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in the top of the third, two innings after fouling a ball off his left shin in the first at-bat of the game.
"I got this one pretty good," Roberts said. "Usually, they don't swell up on me, but this one did. I didn't feel like I was going to be helping that much."
After the ball hit off his shin, Roberts hobbled into foul territory and eventually went down to the turf as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Dave Trembley emerged from the visiting dugout.
He finished the at-bat, drawing a leadoff walk, but he was clearly hobbled on the bases and in the field. Robert Andino pinch hit for Roberts in the third inning and stayed in the game at second base. Ty Wigginton eventually pinch hit for Andino in the ninth inning and stayed in the game at second base, failing to come up with two plays in the bottom of the 10th that contributed to the Orioles' loss.
Roberts, who has started 106 of the Orioles' 110 games, said he isn't sure how long he'll be out, but he was relieved by the negative X-ray results. It's probably unlikely he'll be in the lineup in Sunday's series finale.
"It was getting worse and worse," Roberts said. "I figured the sooner we got ice on it, the sooner we attended to it, hopefully the shorter the period I'll be out."
Taking it in stride
Jim Johnson was so excited Friday after notching his first save since being named the closer that he gave the game ball to somebody else. Johnson wanted Jason Berken to have it after the rookie pitched six solid innings to break a nine-decision losing streak.
"It was his second win," Johnson said. "I think he needed it a little more than I did."
Johnson allowed an infield single en route to a scoreless ninth and his fourth career save, but his first since last week's trade of former closer George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson, who vowed to treat the closer role just like his previous one, said things really didn't feel differently aside from being on the field after the final out.
"It's always fun to be walking off with the team after a victory and shaking hands with your teammates on the field," Johnson said. "I'm normally in the clubhouse at that time."
