The Minnesota Twins completed a three-game series sweep against the Cleveland Indians, and then breathed a sigh of relief that the win apparently didn’t prove to be costly.
First baseman Justin Morneau–who put the Twins ahead for good with a sacrifice fly in a 7-3 victory Sunday–left the game after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch in the sixth inning. He was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which were negative, and the team said he is day to day.
“When he came off the field, it didn’t look good,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Tejada excited about return
It tore at Miguel Tejada’s emotions to leave the Oakland Athletics, the club that signed him as a raw 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic.
On Monday, the 2002 AL MVP returns to the Coliseum for the first time since signing a $72 million, six-year contract with Baltimore last off-season. The Orioles and the A’s play a four-game series.
“I don’t want to lie, I really want to come back to Oakland,” Tejada said. “I want to say to the fans, `I was really happy while I was here. At the time, I really appreciated all the support of the fans.”‘
Too much pain
Frank Catalanotto will be lost to the Toronto Blue Jays for the rest of the year after deciding to have season-ending surgery on his strained groin. The Blue Jays placed the outfielder on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and recalled left-hander Dave Maurer from Syracuse. Catalanotto hit .293 in 75 games, but was mired in an 0-for-18 slump before finally giving in to the pain that was taking away his effectiveness.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Anaheim 4 at N.Y. Yankees 3
W: Escobar (8-9)
L: Brown (9-3)
S: Percival (24)
New York lost for the 6th time in its last 7 starts. Yankees have been outscored 37-11 in the defeats. Kevin Brown lost for the first time in 10 starts at home this season.
Seattle 5 at Detroit 3
W: Meche (4-5)
L: Maroth (10-8)
S: Putz (3)
Willie Bloomquist hit 1st homer in more than 13 months–a go-ahead 3-run shot in 5th–as Seattle avoided sweep. Gil Meche has won 3 starts in a row after winning once in 1st 12.
Oakland 1 at Tampa Bay 2
W: Brazelton (6-4)
L: Redman (9-10)
S: Colome (3)
Dewon Brazelton pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 1 run and 5 hits in improving to 6-1 at home. Jose Cruz Jr. hit tie-breaking homer in 6th. Athletics, 5-1 on trip, have hit 15 homers in 5 games.
Toronto 8 at Baltimore 5
W: Miller (2-2)
L: Bedard (5-8)
S: Frasor (16)
Eric Hinske and Vernon Wells homered as Toronto finished 3-game sweep. Jays had lost 4 straight and 13 of 15 before coming to Baltimore, where they picked up 1st road sweep of season.
Cleveland 3 at Minnesota 7
W: Radke (9-6)
L: Sabathia (9-8)
Corey Koskie homered to tie game 2-2 and Torii Hunter had 3 hits, including a 3-run double, for Twins. Indians have lost 7 in row, 4 to Twins. Brad Radke won 4th straight decision.
Texas 2 at Kansas City 10
W: Greinke (6-9)
L: Erickson (1-3)
Calvin Pickering drove in 6 runs with grand slam, 2-run HR in first ML game in almost 3 years as Royals halted Rangers’ 8-game win streak. He homered in previous at-bat, Oct. 5, 2001.
