Sore left wrist keeps Plouffe sidelined

OAKLAND -- The same soreness in Trevor Plouffe's left wrist that resulted in his removal from the eighth inning of Thursday's series opener against the A's has kept him out of Friday's starting lineup.

Plouffe, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Thursday, said he felt pain after the first pitch of his last at-bat before Eduardo Escobar replaced him at third base for the bottom of the eighth. The original source of the pain, however, stems from June, when he played four games for Triple-A Rochester from June 10-14 during a rehab assignment.

This tidbit has apparently been a revelation to both Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and general manager Terry Ryan, who had no idea he had been managing the pain for such a long stretch.

His statistics wouldn't suggest it -- he's recorded eight multi-hit games in his last 17 starts and is batting .300 with 12 extra-base hits in 31 games since Aug. 18 -- leaving Gardenhire to believe the ailment isn't too severe.

"I didn't know he had a wrist problem until yesterday," Gardenhire said. "If you're suggesting that he's been hurt for a while and swinging like this, then I suggest that he hurts his wrist all the time. He's been swinging better now more than ever."

"If it's hurt him for a couple of months, he probably should've brought it to our attention if it's affected him, but I cant imagine it was or he would have," Ryan said.

"It couldn't have bothered him too much or he would've brought it up. He's not one to beg out of a lineup."

Plouffe said he took 30-40 swings in the batting cage -- his normal number -- and participated in batting practice prior to Friday's game. He said he feels fine and will be ready off the bench if need be.

"I'll just trust him," Gardenhire said. "If he tells me he can go up and hit and he takes a few swings out there and everything seems OK, then we'll go from there."