Mini-News Bulletin: Ripken Scratched

If it happened during the regular season, the news would have been shocking: Cal Ripken was scratched from the Baltimore Orioles’ starting lineup Monday because of an injury.

Ripken strained his left groin hours before the Baltimore Orioles’ exhibition game against the Atlanta Braves at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He aggravated the injury during infield practice and was removed from the starting lineup and replaced at third base by Willis Otanez.

Ripken, who has played in a major-league record 2,316 consecutive regular season games, also is expected to sit out today’s game against the Dodgers. But he said the injury was not serious.

In Monday’s game against the Braves, new Oriole Jimmy Key outpitched Greg Maddux in their first matchup since the decisive game of the 1996 World Series, and the Orioles won, 16-2.

Key, who beat Maddux and the Braves in Game 6 to give the New York Yankees the world championship, gave up one run and two hits over two innings. Maddux gave up three runs and five hits in two innings.