OAKLAND - The A's received encouraging news Thursday night after MRI results showed no structural damage on first baseman Yonder Alonso's left knee.
Alonso left Wednesday's game at Seattle after twisting his knee on a check swing. Manager Bob Melvin said after Thursday's 8-3 win over Boston that Alonso wouldn't be in Friday's lineup but could return Saturday or Sunday.
Before Thursday's game, Alonso said treatment and therapy had the knee feeling better, but that extra rest was probably a good idea.
"I don't think it's anything serious," Alonso said. "One or two more days, depending on what they want to do. We'll see how it goes, how I react to treatment. I think we're headed in the right direction to do this stuff for a day or two, then I'll be ready."
Ryon Healy started at first Thursday and will likely do so again Friday against Sox lefty Chris Sale.
**
Sports
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe was among the multitude of rock fans devastated by the death of Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell on Wednesday night. As a tribute, Plouffe changed his walk-up music to Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun." He said before the game he might keep the Soundgarden theme for a while, and given Plouffe had a three-hit night against Boston, why mess with what's working?
Actually, Plouffe's swing has shown gradual signs of coming around. He's riding a nine-game hitting streak, during which he's hitting .424. That's lifted his overall average to .252.
Said Melvin: "Typically when we've been good this year it's been the (Jed) Lowrie, (Khris) Davis, Alonso (combo), and when they're not swinging at times, and that's going to happen, you need some depth in the lineup. Trevor's got a history of hitting. He's swinging the bat now as well as he has all year."
Before the game, Plouffe made sure to have music from the Seattle grunge era playing over the clubhouse speakers in tribute to Cornell. Plouffe also is a huge fan of Pearl Jam, which helped spawn the grunge movement along with bands like Soundgarden, and said he's met Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder on multiple occasions.
**
Reliever Sean Doolittle has been playing catch to test his strained shoulder, and he's scheduled to throw a flat-ground session Sunday. If that goes well, he'll likely throw off the mound toward the middle of next week.
**
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 and now has a 21-game hitting streak against the A's. The only Boston player with a longer hitting streak against them since the franchise moved to Oakland is Jim Rice, with a 22-gamer from 1979-81. Peoria also owns the majors' longest active hitting streak against the A's.
