Swisher positive about playing after negative MRI

For the third straight day, Nick Swisher tried to run on his sore left knee.

For the third straight day, the knee didn't allow him to do so, which to him and to the Yankees meant it was time for an MRI.

The results came back negative but showed some inflammation, a residual effect from the ball Swisher fouled off his left knee Aug. 24 in Toronto. Sunday was the third straight game, and fourth overall, he has missed since then.

"It's nice to have a picture that shows there's nothing torn, there's nothing broke," Swisher said. "When you take a foul ball off something like the kneecap, that's something that doesn't happen all that often, so I was worried about that. I didn't know what was going on. It was good to get that picture."

Swisher did pinch hit in the eighth inning Sunday - he grounded out - and said the knee felt "pretty good."

Swisher said he's not bothered doing anything other than running in a straight line, and with the MRI showing no serious damage, it put his mind at ease.

"It's the grind," said Swisher, who hopes to be back in the lineup Monday. "Everybody's banged up a little bit. Now it's time to fight through some pain."