Mauer leaves game with jammed left knee

Reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer left Minnesota's game against Oakland on Sunday with a balky left knee.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Mauer tweaked the knee while swinging on a groundout in the sixth. He was replaced defensively by Jose Morales the next inning.

''It's one of these day-to-day things,'' Gardenhire said after the Twins' 6-2 loss to Oakland. ''It's not a big deal. At least that's what they're telling me today. There's no fluid, there's no any of that in there. Maybe just a little of inflammation. So, we'll how it goes.''

Mauer ranks second in the AL with a .331 batting average and is hitting .372 since Aug. 3. He went 1 for 3 against the Athletics.

''He's been battling a little bit of a sore knee here and there anyway, but it's not been a big deal once he gets playing,'' Gardenhire said. ''It's always been fine.''