(May 31, 2003) — The Red Wings will have to do without one of their best players for at least the next 10 days.

Michael Cuddyer, who already has played five positions for the Wings, was placed on the disabled list on Friday with a pulled left hamstring.

He suffered the injury while scoring from first base in Game 1 of Rochester’s doubleheader in Indianapolis on Thursday.

“He did it three strides from home plate,” said Wings manager Phil Roof. “He’s been great since he came down (from Minnesota on May 10). He’s worked hard.”

Cuddyer is hitting .397 with one home run and nine RBI in 17 games. He has a phenomenal .500 on-base percentage and has played first base, second base, third base, left field and right field.

With Cuddyer sidelined and Chad Green hampered by a hamstring pull (but still on the active roster), the Wings played Friday night with 10 healthy position players. They were forced to insert pitcher Brent Hoard into the batting order Thursday when Cuddyer was hurt.

Hoard, who hadn’t hit since high school, went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt, a walk and a strikeout. He scored on a Justin Morneau home run.

Hoard throws left-handed but bats right. He is the first Wings pitcher to hit since Matt Snyder and Jason McCommon in 1999. McCommon homered.