Rays, Avisail Garcia hoping oblique pain is not a strain

SAN DIEGO — The good feelings the Rays has about Tuesday’s come-from-behind 7-5 win over the Padres were tempered by the bad feeling power-hitting outfielder Avisail Garcia had in his right oblique.

Garcia said he felt something “funny” in the oblique muscle during his fifth-inning at-bat, then after consulting with the athletic training staff was removed for a pinch-hitter before he was due to hit in the seventh.

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Garcia said he was hopeful the Rays caught it in time and he won’t be sidelined for an extended period, talking about playing this weekend against the Tigers at the Trop.

“I felt something a little but and they don’t want to take a chance,” Garcia said. “I don’t want to get that thing worse. I know how it is. Hopefully I’ll be able to play (at home). It’s not that bad. They told me they don’t want it to get worse. Because if I swing and it gets worse I could miss like two months.”

“Hamstrings and obliques, we have to be careful. I’m just happy it’s nothing worse. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow.”

Garcia is hitting .278 with 17 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .794 OPS, including 10 three-hit games.