Twins: Collision costly for Morneau

MIAMI - Twins first baseman Justin Morneau coughed up blood after bruising his lung Friday night in a home-plate collision and was wheeled from Dolphin Stadium on a stretcher.

Morneau, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, had an oxygen mask covering his mouth as he left in an ambulance after the Twins' 5-4 loss to the Marlins.

He was taken to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Fla., and held overnight for re-evaluation. X-rays were negative and a CT scan was normal, and Morneau will be re-evaluated by a Marlins team physician Sunday.

That update, which came nearly three hours after the game, likely relieved Morneau's teammates, who were noticeably shaken by the events.

"We need to see if his health is OK," Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said.

Continued Hunter: "He was spitting up blood; that's what we heard. They took him to the hospital to see what's going on, and I pray that everything's all right."

Morneau's injury came in the eighth inning on Jason Kubel's two-out double that wound up scoring two runs to tie the score at 4-4.

But Hanley Ramirez hit a home run off Juan Rincon the next half-inning, putting Florida back in the lead, and the Marlins held on to end the Twins' two-game winning streak.

Rincon had retired five batters before serving up the homer with two outs in the eighth. He now has allowed home runs in three consecutive appearances.

"It's not Juanie's fault; I should have had my pitcher [Pat Neshek] ready," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I got kind of caught up in the Morneau situation. Normally in that situation, I go to my submariner [Neshek] and didn't get him ready in time because of the other situation.

"I feel it was my responsibility to take control of that game, and I let some other things get in the way."

Morneau, 25, has played in 191 consecutive games, giving him the fourth-longest active streak in the majors after Baltimore's Miguel Tejada went on the disabled list Friday, ending his streak of 1,152 consecutive games played.

Morneau, who is batting .278 and leads the Twins with 20 home runs, drew a one-out walk off Marlins reliever Armando Benitez with the Twins trailing 4-2 in the eighth.

With two outs, Gardenhire sent Jason Kubel to pinch hit for Jeff Cirillo, and Kubel lined a ball down the left-field line.

With third base coach Scott Ullger holding a stop sign, Morneau slowed as he approached third. But when left fielder Josh Willingham bobbled the ball, Ullger waved Morneau home.

Ramirez, the shortstop, took the relay throw from Willingham, and made a strong throw home. It appeared Morneau would be out by several feet.

But the throw was low, and catcher Miguel Olivo let it bounce between his legs.

Morneau lowered his shoulder for a collision, and upon impact with the 6-2, 220-pound Olivo, he came to a halt.

Olivo's left shoulder caught Morneau in the chest. As the ball rolled past the catcher, Morneau reached over and touched home plate with his hand.

The ball continued rolling into the Marlins' dugout, allowing Kubel to score, too.

Just like that, it was tied 4-4.

But the Twins could hardly celebrate. Morneau remained hunched over in pain as Gardenhire and others tended to him.

Morneau went to the bench and was given some water. That's when he started coughing up blood. After going to the clubhouse, Morneau came out on the stretcher.

He was sitting upright, alert, with the oxygen mask covering his mouth. His girlfriend joined him for the ride to the hospital.

Gardenhire said he was stunned to see the 6-4, 223-pound Morneau in such pain.

"He's a pretty strong guy -- a pretty tough guy, been hit a lot of times, and it's kind of going through my mind a little bit there," he said. "Spitting up blood, and I don't like to see that kind of thing."

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com