Molitor expects no retaliation from Royals over Rios injury

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Kansas City fans filled up the local sports talk show phone lines Monday still hot about a contentious weekend series against Oakland — including Sunday's game in which five Royals players and coaches were ejected.

Every series the Royals have played in this season, tempers have flared, except one — when the Twins took two of three games from them at Target Field last week. Alex Rios did voice his displeasure about rookie J.R. Graham hitting him on his left hand on April 13, breaking a bone and sending Rios to the disabled list. But there was no retaliation, and the situation blew over much easier than other incidents involving the Royals, who have been hit by pitches 14 times already.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said he didn't see the need to reach out to the Royals to smooth things over after Graham hit Rios because "there was no intent."

Graham, who hit Rios with the bases were loaded, wished Rios a speedy recovery, but maintained he wasn't trying to throw at him.

Given what happened over the weekend, was Molitor worried about the Royals taking things out on the Twins?

"I don't really think there's a carry-over from something like that to the next series," Molitor said. "I would be surprised if anything like that took place. You can never be sure."

The walk is a weapon for Brian Dozier. The Twins second baseman drew 89 walks last season. Through eight games this year, Dozier had zero walks.

Dozier said he has felt the same at the plate since the start of the season. The reason for the walks, he feels, coincided with him moving from second to fourth in the batting order and batting with runners on base. Opponents don't want to throw him fastballs and have opted for offspeed pitches that have been off the plate.

"A lot of offspeed pitches, I've been picking up on that a lot more which is fine by me," he said. "They still have to throw it over."

Dozier hit leadoff Sunday against Cleveland when the Twins gave Danny Santana a break. But Dozier was back in the No. 4 hole Monday.

Santana was back in the lineup Monday, and Molitor hoped the day off would get him back on track. Santana went 1-for-4 but struck out twice, giving him 15 strikeouts in 11 games.

"We have been pretty lucky so far," Molitor said. "When guys have sat they have come back and have played well. Taking a step back seeing the game slowing it a step down in your mind a little bit."

"[Santana] is a prideful guy," Molitor said. "He's smart and he tries to study the game and improve his weaknesses, but he puts a lot of pressure on himself.

"A lot of young players — Kennys probably is doing it too — is that when they are not producing they feel like they are hurting the team, and they try that much harder. Sometimes you have to let the game come to you."

Vargas was on the field Monday for extra work with hitting coach Tom Brunansky. Torii Hunter also jumped into the batting practice cage to offer a couple of pointers.

"He told me to keep my head still and help me with my balance," Vargas said. "It was good."