Vance Worley talks about his injury

BOSTON - Vance Worley said he began to feel some discomfort in his right groin muscle while pitching to Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders in the second inning of Sunday's game in Toronto. He pushed through it, lasting 4 1/3 innings and surrendering two runs, and the decision was made today to place him on the 15-day disabled list.

"Want to say it was the second pitch of the at-bat," Worley said today while standing outside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park. "Started feeling it, wasn't sure really what it was. As the game continued, I continued to feel it. Kept pitching and it was there."

Worley retired two batters in the first inning after replacing starter Ubaldo Jimenez. The injury surfaced after he returned to the mound in the second.

"I went out there and just made sure I kept the ball down in the zone," said Worley, who's 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 games (two starts) with the Orioles this season, including a 1.80 ERA in 15 appearances over 30 innings as a reliever.

"The one pitch I got hurt on was the (Kevin Pillar) home run. Aside from that, everything else did what I wanted it to do and I made the pitches where I wanted them. So I kept us in there and unfortunately it didn't work out. But we were right where we needed to be."

The Orioles recalled Odrisamer Despaigne from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Worley. The bullpen has a designated long reliever tonight. The rotation is a riddle, and Worley's injury removes him from consideration.

"I mean, it's going to happen," he said. "This game's not easy. There's guys that are going to get hurt, and you know, it just depends on how well my body likes me and wants me to come back. So we'll see what happens, and hopefully it's faster rather than slow.

"Nobody wants to get hurt. It's our job to stay healthy and be out there and help the team win. Like you said, it's disappointing, but it's better to be in this situation now. Somewhat earlier in the season, it gives me some time to bounce back."

Worley thinks he should be ready when his 15 days are up.

"I think so," he said. "It's already a lot better than what it was. I don't know if it was just maybe a tall mound or I wasn't as hydrated as I should have been, but I definitely felt like I was stretched out enough where I could go out there and compete. But I think 15 days is pretty reasonable.

"It's not 100 percent. I think in a few days, we'll kind of see where it's at and slowly start getting it going again."