Tejada's iron-man streak in jeopardy

SAN DIEGO -- The hard-luck Baltimore Orioles finally won a game Wednesday night, but they may have suffered another loss within it: Shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose streak of 1,151 consecutive games played is the fifth-longest in major league history, left in the eighth inning after San Diego reliever Doug Brocail hit him with a pitch in the left wrist.

X-rays at Petco Park were negative, but Tejada said doctors were sending him to a local hospital for a CAT scan late Wednesday. Results weren't expected to be available until Thursday morning.

"I'm worried, yeah," Tejada said. "I feel like everything is fine. It's a little swollen."

The Orioles, who snapped a nine-game losing streak with the 7-1 decision, delivered interim manager Dave Trembley his first victory. But Tejada, who was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, was removed in the bottom of the eighth after remaining in the game and running the bases after he was hit.

"I'm still scared," Tejada said afterward when asked if Brocail's up-and-in pitch scared him. "I was really scared."

Tejada's streak is by far the longest streak by an active player in the game today. Next is the Los Angeles Dodgers' Juan Pierre, who Wednesday night played in his 343rd consecutive game, followed by Cleveland's Grady Sizemore at 267.

Tejada's 1,151 currently ranks fifth all-time behind Cal Ripken Jr. (2,632), Lou Gehrig (2,130), Everett Scott (1,307) and Steve Garvey (1,207).

The shortstop was encouraged because he was able to squeeze his left hand, make a fist and, as he said, "make all the movements the trainers had me do." He predicted he will be in the lineup for Thursday afternoon's game -- but that was before he was directed to the hospital for the CAT scan.