Aybar back in the lineup
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A day after leaving a winter league game in the sixth inning because of a lower back strain Thursday, Angels shortstop Erick Aybar was back on the field for the Licey Tigers on Friday.
Aybar, who has missed time in two of the last three major league seasons with hamstring issues, appeared to tweak his left leg while trying to beat out an infield grounder in the sixth inning of Thursday’s Dominican League game with Escodigo. Aybar went out to field his position in the top of the seventh but Licey Manager Jose Offerman sent a trainer out to get him and Aybar went straight to the clubhouse with what the Angels on Friday said was a lower back issue.
The team does not appear concerned, however, and Aybar was back in the lineup Friday, grounding a single to left field in his first at-bat.
-- Kevin Baxter