Beanball fires up the Twins in victory

Associated Press

Kansas City Royals catcher John Buck, left, and plate umpire Alfonso Marquez, center, keep Minnesota Twins' Delmon Young from charging the mound after Young was hit by a pitch thrown by Zack Greinke in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, in Kansas City, Mo.

A pitch thrown at Delmon Young's head made Minnesota mad and got its batters hitting.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2008 - 8:18 AM

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TWINS 7, KANSAS CITY 3

Up next: at Kansas City • 1:10 p.m. today TV: Ch. 29 (1500-AM)

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KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Twins left Kaufmann Stadium on Saturday feeling good about themselves after their 7-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals allowed them to take a half-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central.

But they are also left wondering what's up with Royals righthander Zack Greinke, who has plunked their outfielders a couple of times.

Last year, Greinke hit Torii Hunter in the mouth. The two apparently smoothed things over later. But on Saturday, Greinke went up and in to Delmon Young two at-bats after Young hit a 418-foot homer off him. Young turned away in time so he was hit in the shoulder, but then turned toward Greinke and took a couple of steps toward the mound.

"I guess it's close toward your head, you wonder what's going on," Young said. "You rather prefer the ribs or lower."

Greinke took a few steps off the mound before home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez escorted Young to first base as Twins players spilled out on the field and Royals infielders moved in.

"That kind of surprised me that he would think something like that," Greinke said. "I've hung out with him a few times. That's what happens in the heat of the moment."

Greinke was involved in another incident in the heat of the moment. He and Royals catcher Miguel Olivo are appealing five-game suspensions for their actions during a bench-clearing incident with the White Sox a week ago.

On Saturday night, the Twins were issued a warning after Young was hit, which upset manager Ron Gardenhire. And he's convinced, and said that Greinke intentionally threw at Young.

"No doubt," Gardenhire said. "He doesn't miss that high. That was at his face. You want to go inside and knock a guy off, you do it at his face. Hit him up high or at his face. They can say what they want to say."

The Twins nursed a 2-1 lead at the time, but woke up after that. Brian Buscher hit a RBI single to score Jason Kubel, who had tripled before Young was hit by pitch. Adam Everett walked to load the bases -- and send Greinke to the showers.

Young scored on an error by third baseman Alex Gordon. Denard Span hit a two-run single to left and Justin Morneau added a sacrifice fly as the Twins took a 7-1 lead and cruised from there.

Lefthander Francisco Liriano (2-3) worked 5 2/3 innings and has won both his starts since being called up from Class AAA Rochester. Righthander Boof Bonser added 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

The Twins have beaten the Royals five consecutive times and, after losing two of three in Seattle, can finish the road trip 4-2 with a victory today.

Cooler heads finally prevailed on a cool night in Kansas City, but the Twins weren't pleased that their composure was tested by Greinke.

"It's totally unfair," Twins infielder Nick Punto said. "If the roles were reversed and the Royals were battling the White Sox for the division, we wouldn't be in this kind of scenario. We can't go out there and fight. We can't lose Morneau for six games. We can't do that. You hate to see that."

Gardenhire said the incident definitely provided extra motivation for his team.

"That adds on. No matter what you say, it adds on," he said.

"Stuff like that adds a fire. Always has, always will. That's just part of sports."

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