Not exactly what the Minnesota Twins wanted to see even as they won their 11th game in a row Thursday against the Orioles, 4-0.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton exited the game after colliding in the third inning.
Baltimore's Cedric Mullins hit a fly ball to shallow center field. Correa retreated to the outfield grass in pursuit while Buxton raced in. Buxton appeared to call off Correa at the last minute, but it was too late. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Buxton slammed into the 6-3, 220-pound Correa.
The Twins reported after the game both players are in MLB's concussion protocol. Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler notes that it is precautionary, and does not mean either player does - or doesn't - have a concussion. They are expecting a further update on Correa and Buxton on Friday.
"One of those fly balls that's kind of right in the middle of both of them, and both of them going at it hard," said Tingler. "Pretty good like crowd today with a bunch of people screaming, tough to communicate and you know they obviously collided and banged heads. So both those guys right now are in the MLB concussion protocol and we don't have any information right now. We'll have more information Friday."
Correa exited the game immediately and was replaced by Jonah Bride. Buxton stayed in for the remainder of the third inning but did not return for the fourth and was replaced by Ty France.
The 30-year-old Correa has missed just three games this season — all scheduled rest days — after being limited to 86 games last season because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The Twins entered the day on a 10-game winning streak that brought them back into the mix in the competitive AL Central.