Sore back keeps Lawrie out of starting lineup

BOSTON -- A's third baseman Brett Lawrie, coming off four straight multihit games, was forced to sit out the start of Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park because of a recurring back issue.

Lawrie ultimately entered the game with two outs in the eighth as a pinch-hitter for Josh Reddick and drew a walk. Lawrie was promptly replaced at first base by pinch-runner Sam Fuld.

"I was just going to hit him and that was it," said A's manager Bob Melvin, who expects to have Lawrie back in the starting lineup Sunday.

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Lawrie, who missed three games at the end of May because of the same issue, collected a career high-tying three hits in Friday's loss and is 9-for-15 with four extra-base hits in the first five games of this six-game road swing through Detroit and Boston.

Melvin said Lawrie being held out of the starting lineup had nothing to do with Friday night's incident when Lawrie's broken bat flew into the stands and seriously injured a woman. The fan was listed in stable condition on Saturday.