Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had the money in his pocket after Thursday's 3-2 victory over Seattle. The fresh moolah came after Trevor Plouffe missed a hit-and-run sign in the ninth inning.

Gardenhire has had to fine players for such offenses because they continue to happen. It's September. Actually, it's late September. Signs should not be missed by now.

The Twins used the disabled list 24 times in 2011, so plenty of minor leaguers got an opportunity in the majors. One thing Gardenhire learned this year is that the club kept calling up players who weren't ready and didn't deserve it -- but there was no one else to turn to.

"And some of those guys have been on a scholarship program, as we call it," Gardenhire said. "There's nobody to push them. You have to have people pushing them all the way up the organization. Some of these players, you had to call them back up. You can't stick it to them by passing them up with somebody because there was no one to pass them up."

The coaching staff has tried to work with who was available. Gardenhire, before Thursday's game, expressed frustration over trying to get younger players to understand they must be better. He has not been pleased with how some of them have reacted when coaches have tried to address mistakes made in games.

"I think a lot of young players go through it," he said. "They learn to be accountable. All you have to do it talk to [Carl] Pavano and [Michael] Cuddyer. Those guys are pretty much accountable for everything that happens."

Although the Twins won Thursday to end an 11-game losing streak, there were several mistakes made during the game -- especially late.

Wednesday, Gardenhire talked about how Ben Revere needs to improve his bunting. With the score tied Thursday, Matt Tolbert led off the eighth inning with a walk. Revere failed to get a sacrifice down. Any bunt by the speedy Revere is a potential hit, but it's a skill coaches want him to work on.

Revere attempted to atone for his mistake by hitting a 3-2 pitch to center for a single. But Revere blundered again, as he was thrown out trying to advance to second when Tolbert went for third.

With one out in the ninth and Danny Valencia on first, Plouffe missed the sign and Valencia was thrown out trying to steal second. In a show of support, the Twins gave Plouffe the green light on 3-0, and Plouffe fouled the pitch back. Plouffe did draw a walk and scored the winning run when Rene Tosoni doubled to right-center for the Twins' first victory since Sept. 7.

The night before, Plouffe came up with the bases loaded and no one out and hit a comebacker that resulted both in a double play and no run scoring.

"A guy does one thing one time doesn't mean he's always going to do it," Plouffe said. "I think Gardy understands that."

One thing Gardenhire has wondered aloud during the season is if some of the younger players worry about stats more than making winning plays.

"In the minor leagues, there's a bit of wanting to win, but it's kind of a game where you want to perform so you can get to the big leagues," Plouffe said. "Once you are here, it is all about winning. I could care less if I go 0-for-3 or 0-for-4 if we are winning. That's my honest answer."

There are seven games to go. Gardenhire won't have to worry about fines for much longer. What he worries about is helping players get thicker skin.

"We're trying to get accountability and get them to understand the game," Gardenhire said. "When we talk to them, we want them to know it is not blasting them, it's trying to help them. They feel like we are on them all the time. It's a different breed."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com