Disputed Call Helps Twins Sneak a Win Past Royals

The Minnesota Twins have been a pain for the Royals.

“They’re just a scrappy bunch of boys that’ll come back and beat you,” Kansas City Manager Tony Muser said after the Twins scored four times in the eighth inning to rally past the Royals for the second straight game, winning, 5-3, at Minneapolis.

Bobby Kielty’s double in the eighth put the Twins ahead and got Muser kicked out of the game. Muser argued with umpire Eric Cooper that Kielty’s chopper down the third base line went foul. Kielty later scored on a wild pitch to give the Twins a 5-3 lead after they had trailed, 3-1, entering the inning.

Minnesota (11-3) has eight come-from-behind victories and finished its season-opening homestand 8-1.

“We just keep plugging away,” first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said.

Matt Lawton, who has reached base in every game, drew his league-leading 19th walk to lead off the eighth against Jason Grimsley. Corey Koskie, who had the game-winning hit in the ninth Tuesday, scored Lawton with a double.

Tony Cogan (0-1) relieved, and Doug Mientkiewicz drove in Koskie with a single that tied the score. Then Kielty’s disputed double scored Mientkiewicz.

“I gave up [on the play], knowing it was a foul ball,” Royal third baseman Joe Randa said. “I turn around, and he’s calling it fair. It was a terrible call.”

Texas 8, Seattle 6--Alex Rodriguez doubled and drove in a run as the Rangers salvaged the final game of his return-to-Seattle series.

The Rangers ended Seattle’s four-game win streak and beat the Mariners for the second time in six games this season.

Rafael Palmeiro hit his third homer of the series, a two-run shot in the first inning. Chad Curtis led off the fourth with a homer off Brett Tomko (0-1).

Doug Davis (2-1) gave up solo home runs to John Olerud, David Bell and Ichiro Suzuki. Jeff Zimmerman got his first save.

The crowd of 43,823 booed Rodriguez and more fake money floated down from the upper deck at Safeco Field, but there were fewer signs.

After Rodriguez left the field when he was called out at second on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, he gave a small wave to heckling fans on the third-base side as he entered the Texas dugout.

Toronto 7, New York 2--Chris Michalak won his third straight start and the Blue Jays handed the Yankees their fourth loss in a row.

Michalak (3-0) beat New York for the second time this season. Making his third career start, the 30-year-old rookie gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings at Toronto.

Jose Cruz and Tony Batista homered for the Blue Jays. Toronto has won its first six series of the season for the first time in the franchise’s 25-year history.

David Justice homered for the Yankees, who had only five hits. New York has lost four of five to Toronto this year.

Cleveland 4, Baltimore 1--Bartolo Colon (2-1) gave up four hits in eight innings and the Indians scored two key runs after a misplayed popup at Baltimore.

Pat Hentgen (0-2) retired the first eight Cleveland batters before Einar Diaz singled to left. Kenny Lofton then hit a two-out popup that shortstop Mike Bordick and third baseman Mike Kinkade allowed to drop behind the pitcher’s mound. After Lofton stole second, Omar Vizquel snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a two-run single.

Chicago 6, Detroit 4--Jose Valentin hit a three-run homer at Detroit and the White Sox ended a four-game losing streak.

Mark Buehrle (1-2) won for the first time as a starter since last July 19. He gave up three runs and five hits in six-plus innings.

Keith Foulke pitched the final two innings for his fourth save.

Boston 9, Tampa Bay 1--Brian Daubach and Darren Lewis homered during Boston’s nine-run eighth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla., as the Red Sox ruined Tampa Bay’s debut under Manager Hal McRae.