By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

When he left the Reds clubhouse Sunday, Sean Casey did so with a limp.

The Reds first baseman, and National League's leading hitter, strained his right calf running to first base on a single in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Casey was fitted with a protective boot and will be examined today by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek and have an MRI.

"We'll re-evaluate it, see where I am and hopefully get back in the lineup in the next few days," Casey said.

"I'm trying to be the ultimate optimist here."

The injury occurred as Casey left the batter's box on a single to right field.

He pulled up in pain halfway down the first-base line, was taken out of the game immediately and limped to the Reds clubhouse.

"I was three steps out of the (batter's) box and my calf grabbed me, up by the back of my knee," he said.

"It was a pretty sharp pain."

Any injury to Casey is a potential blow to the Reds' offense.

"Any time you have to take a guy out of a game it worries you," Reds manager Dave Miley said.

"Hopefully we get good news out of (today's exam)."

Casey entered Sunday leading the NL with a .352 batting average, 32 multi-hit games and 173 total bases.

The seventh-inning single ended a season-high 0-for-11 streak.

"He's our leader and a guy we rally behind," Reds pitcher Paul Wilson said. "We'll cross our fingers that he's going to be just fine."