BALTIMORE -- Nelson Cruz was a late scratch from the Mariners' starting lineup due to lower back tightness, the team said before Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Mariners manager Scott Servais said that he's hoping Cruz won't miss any more time.
"He was a little tender when he came in," Servais said. "They thought they could work on it, loosen it up. I hope he's going to be OK tomorrow. He's pretty sore. I think it's on the right side and kind of goes down in the low back area there. Nellie has a way of getting over these things quickly, so hopefully he's back in there."
Cruz was originally slated to bat fourth as the designated hitter. He is hitting .270 with 20 homers and 48 RBIs on the season.
Denard Span shifted over to designated hitter for the game, and he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Seattle now has won the first two games of this four-game series with the Orioles.