Skip to main content

Rays rookie Mahtook out of lineup a day after getting 5 hits

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay rookie Mikie Mahtook was out of the starting lineup one day after tying a team record with five hits in a game.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said a number of factors, including third baseman Evan Longoria being the designated hitter for Saturday night's game against Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, led to his lineup decision.

''We were confident, probably, he couldn't do it again,'' Cash said with a smile. ''Mikie will be back in there very soon.''

It was the eighth time, and first by a rookie, that a Rays player had a five-hit game. Mahtook did it Friday night in an 8-6 win over the Orioles.