The Rays’ Evan Longoria made an awkward slide into second base during their game against the Mariners on Monday night, forcing him to leave the game and to have an MRI scheduled for early Tuesday.

There are already reports that this injury is moderately serious:

Hearing #Rays Longoria has a hamstring issue, guesstimate is he’ll be out 6-8 weeks. Could have been worse.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 1, 2012

Hamstrings are tough injuries to come back from and there’s no doubt the Rays will be extra-careful with their star third baseman. Elliot Johnson finished Monday’s game at third base after Longoria departed, and he and Jeff Keppinger will likely share a lot of the time there, though with Longoria possibly out for two months, the Rays might seek a trade. They’d certainly have snapped up Brandon Inge, had he still been available.

UPDATE: Though this was speculation on Marc Topkin's part earlier Tuesday, and the Rays had denied it at the time, Topkin tweeted confirmation late Tuesday afternoon:

#Rays say Longoria has partial tear of left hamstring. Out 6-8 weeks.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 1, 2012

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