Covering the bases

Quick pitch brings ejection

Brendan Harris didn't see the pitch. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire barely believed what he saw.

Gardenhire was ejected in the eighth inning Sunday of Minnesota's 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers for arguing with plate umpire Brian Runge, who didn't allow Harris time to reset in the batter's box with the Twins trailing 3-2 and no outs.

On an 0-2 count, Harris got into the box, then pulled one foot out while asking for time. Runge didn't grant it, and Brewers reliever Guillermo Mota delivered to the plate. Runge called the pitch a strike, and a shocked Harris, who wasn't looking at Mota, dropped his bat and began to complain.

Gardenhire came out to get Harris and argued for several minutes. Runge warned him to go back to the dugout before ejecting him.

"I was in shock. I honestly didn't know what I saw. My guy is looking down and not even looking at the pitcher. If he gets hit in the head, what are we going to do then? That's embarrassing," a still steamed Gardenhire said. " 'Call the league,' that's what I was told."

Cardinals' Molina injured on tag play

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was taken off the field on a stretcher with a brace around his neck after getting run over by Philadelphia's Eric Bruntlett on a tag play in the ninth inning Sunday.

Molina was taken to a hospital for evaluation of neck and back pain. Team spokesman Brian Bartow said Molina did not lose consciousness after the collision.

Molina got spun around on a one-hop throw from first baseman Chris Duncan, who had been playing in when he fielded Jimmy Rollins' bad-hop grounder. As he was turning to make the tag, Molina was drilled by Bruntlett, who was called out. Molina showed plate umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, before collapsing in front of the plate.

Gagne throws as recovery continues

Brewers reliever Eric Gagne threw about 25 pitches off the mound Sunday as he continues to recover from right rotator cuff tendinitis.

Gagne smiled but declined to speak after the session. He said Saturday that he felt about "90 percent" healthy and was eager to throw from the mound "just to start getting the feeling back." There is no timetable for his return.

SHORT HOPS: Texas Rangers infielder Hank Blalock will start a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma today as he returns from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on his right wrist.

* Manny Ramirez was out of Boston's lineup for a second straight game Sunday with soreness in a right hamstring that has bothered him the last few weeks. The Red Sox also are missing David Ortiz, who is recovering from a wrist injury.

* White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko could be headed to the disabled list after straining a muscle near his rib cage before Chicago's game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.