Morneau kept out of Twins lineup

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau sat a second straight game Monday against Cleveland with a sore wrist and strained back.

Morneau, who is also in the midst of a hitting slump, was expected to see a doctor on Monday.

"He doesn't want to come out, but you have to give him a day here or there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Morneau, a native of New Westminster, B.C.

Morneau has battled back soreness at various times this season, but his dive headfirst into first base on Friday night against Oakland while attempting to avoid a tag probably aggravated it, said Gardenhire.

"You applaud it, because he's trying to play the game and you cringe, because he's trying to play the game," the manager told MLB.com.

Morneau, 28, has just three hits in his past 39 at-bats (.077 average) and is 0-for-9 since homering off Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay on Sept. 9.

"He's the ultimate gamer on the field," Gardenhire said. "He's been really fighting through it with everything. Normally, when our offence is going good, it's because Morny is going good."

Twins designated hitter Jason Kubel also sat out Monday with a sore neck.

Rookie Justin Huber took Kubel's place in the lineup, while Michael Cuddyer moved from right field to first base.

With a 71-72 record, Minnesota entered Monday's action five and a half games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division standings.