Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Polanco in lineup as Twins look to avoid sweep. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2

Souhan blog: Frustration leads to Hunter's meltdown. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 2

Postgame: Thoughts on Stauffer, Polanco and Twins' ejections. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3

Wednesday's Twins-Kansas City game recap. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3

Reusse: Providence benefits from ex-Twin Tapani's coaching. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 4

Twins notes: Jorge Polanco continues to work on defense. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 5

Frustration boils over as Twins swept by Kansas City. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 6

Twins: Ricky Nolasco testing sore ankle after cortisone shot. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Twins: Jorge Polanco feels more prepared in third call-up. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Torii Hunter has an on-field meltdown as Twins swept by Royals. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8

Tom Powers: Twins' Mike Pelfrey is healthy and happy for first time in a long time. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 9

Twinsights: Multisport background appeals to Twins scouts. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 10

Twinsights: Twins draft two with Minnesota ties on Day 3. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11

Postgame Twinsights: Tim Stauffer ready to move on. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11

Torii Hunter strips down in epic ejection tirade -- so bat boy cleans up after him. This is his story. MLB.com (Clair) p. 12

Milone, Twins aim to get on track against Rangers. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 13

Twins designate Stauffer, will recall Tonkin. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 13

Twins fan Sawyer drafted by hometown team. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 14

Plouffe's homer isn't enough to slow Royals. MLB.com (Flanagan & Helfand) p. 14

Torii, Molitor ejected for arguing balls, strikes. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 15

Twins prefer flamethrowers in '15 Draft class. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 16

Recent re-stock on pitchers had Twins turning focus to other positions. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 17

GM Ryan willing to make move to upgrade Twins if opportunity exists. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 18

What to make of Omar Infante getting voted ahead of Brian Doizer. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 18

Twins recap from Day 3 of MLB first-year player draft. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 19

Torii Hunter, Paul Molitor ejected after arguing umpire’s strike call. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21

Tim Stauffer designated for assignment, Twins to recall Michael Tonkin. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Hunter’s tantrum, Polanco’s stint, early deficit. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21

Royals top Twins, complete sweep. Associated Press p. 23

Twins tweak roster following loss, designate Stauffer for assignment. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 24

Veteran Hunter throws a fit during Twins' setback. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 24

Torii Hunter tossed for arguing third strike, unloads batting gear on field. ESPN.com p. 25

Twins' Torii Hunter throws batting gloves, jersey after ejection. Sports Illustrated p. 26

Torii Hunter tears off jersey in epic meltdown following ejection. Yahoo! Sports (Townsend) p. 26

Twins draft Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay with No. 6 pick. Minnesota Post (Gleeman) p. 26

Kolton Kendrick likely to sign with Minnesota Twins after 8th-round selection in 2015 MLB Draft. The Times-Picayune p. 27

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Polanco in lineup as Twins look to avoid sweep

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

Just finished watching Jorge Polanco take grounders at short as Twins manager Paul Molitor looked on. Not sure if he's in the lineup or not, We are all anxiously awaiting the release.

The MLB draft winds down today with rounds 11-40. The Twins did select Gophers lefthander Dalton Sawyer in the 27th round,

Will check back later with lineups and updates

UPDATES

Yes, the plan is for Jorge Polanco to play one game, then head back to Class AA Chattanooga. But it's strange sometimes how things pop up in baseball that will lead to a different roster move, just sayin.'

``The plan is right now for him to play today then just go ahead and head back, at least for the short term,'' Molitor said.

One interesting thing Molitor said is that the jury is still out if Polanco is a shortstop or second base. He did point out that Polanco is bigger, stronger, faster has better footwork, but there is not a consensus within the organization if he'll be a shortstop in the majors.

Minor lineup tweak tonight. Trevor Plouffe is batting third, Joe Mauer second and Torii Hunter cleanup.

Kennys Vargas spent pregame today working on getting his timing down on fastballs. Said he saw few fastballs while at Rochester.

Twins are trying to avoid losing three straight for the third time this season.

Souhan blog: Frustration leads to Hunter's meltdown Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

Torii Hunter argued a strike call late in the Twins' loss on Wednesday night. Then he got ejected. Then he stripped off his various pads and threw them before taking off his jersey and throwing it.

Of course, social media erupted.

Anyone who doesn't like Hunter or doesn't believe in clubhouse chemistry or leadership in baseball attacked him for behaviour that did not seem leader-like.

Anyone who likes him, like me, found the moment entertaining and indicative of the kind of fire he's shown throughout his career.

Both camps are probably wrong in some way.

In a 162-game season, sometimes things happen that mean nothing or close to nothing. This was probably one of those moments.

It wasn't leadership. It wasn't irresponsibility. It was just a guy getting frustrated and angry and doing the kinds of things that baseball players and managers have been doing for more than 100 years.

I grew up watching Earl Weaver. He was one of the smartest managers in baseball history. He also turned his cap backward so he could scream in umpires' faces. He also kicked dirt on home plate. He was brilliant and he acted immaturely at times and in baseball those are not contradictory behaviour patterns.

We react so quickly to any vivid moment these days. I believe in judging a person's body of work. Hunter has thrown a few tantrums in his career. He also rose from poverty in Arkansas and spent most of a decade bouncing around the minors to turn himself into an All-Star player and, yes, a true leader.

His teammates love him. Every organization that has employed him has revered him.

What he did on Wednesday night shouldn't be conflated as leadership; nor should it diminish what he's done this year or in his career.

It was just a moment - a frustrated moment at the end of a frustrating series for a player who cares deeply and always has

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For decades, the Royals would put together a half-season of competence, then market themselves as the next great team. I still remember the ``Blue Wave'' marketing in the mid-90s.

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The current Royals are worthy of the hype. I love watching this team. They win with brilliant fielding and play with obvious energy and passion. I would love to see the Twins and Royals playing meaningful games down the stretch in their two beautiful ballparks. Let Red Sox and Yankees fans watch the MIdwest for once, instead of the other way around.

Postgame: Thoughts on Stauffer, Polanco and Twins' ejections La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

ROSTER MOVES: The Twins are sending Jorge Polanco back to Class AA Chattanooga, as expected. But they also designated rigthhander Tim Stauffer for assignment. The Twins are paying Stauffer $2.2 million this season because he had a 93 miles-an-hour fastball and good breaking stuff. But his fastball rarely reached 90, and everyone was baffled why he lost his heater. The Twins have 10 days to trade him, release him or send him to the minors. In a move that was overdue the Twins have recalled Michael Tonkin. He wasn't pitching that bad when they sent him out a few weeks ago. He can help the bullpen.

ABOUT JORGE: He takes good at bats and shot a single up the middle. Defensively he showed why he has to clean up some things. He had a routine double play grounder hit to him in the fifth and he booted it into right field. Yes, Joe Mauer committed a throwing error to second in the seventh inning, but Twins manager Paul Molitor said Polanco had time to come off the bag, catch the ball and tag the bag instead of trying to lean for the ball with a foot on the bag. He almost pulled off a nice play in the first inning on Alcides Escobar's grounder up the middle, gobbling up the grounder, spinning and then throwing to first. But he hesitated just a bit, and that cost him. All things that can be corrected the next time he's called up. And he will be called up.

EJECTIONS: Can an ejection fire up a team? Was what Torii Hunter did an attempt to get the club going? I think he was legitimately angry with Mark Ripperger behind home plate and just didn't care after he was tossed. ``He's been emotional this series,'' said Molitor, who has been ejected five times as a player, three as a coach and now once as a manager. ``I think he's trying to bring out a part of this team and how to respond. I think that was a little bit more related to his own situation, maybe as it went on possibly.'' I was wondering what would be the circumstances behind a Molitor ejection, and now we know. I told him after the game he's going to have to put in a play to get Hunter off the field the next time he's tossed. But the coaches and players should have moved faster to make sure Hunter didn't go overboard, because now he might be suspended, and the Twins don't need that. Molitor, when he was coach of the Twins in 2001, I think, had a memorable ejection. He got tossed for barking at the umpire for ball-strike calls - then tossed a batting tee onto the field.

Wednesday's Twins-Kansas City game recap La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

GAME RECAP

IMPACT PLAYER

Edinson Volquez, K.C.

The Royals’ righthander held the Twins to one run over seven innings and pitched out of several jams.

BY THE NUMBERS

9 career ejections for Torii Hunter, six as Twin, after he was sent packing in the eighth inning after arguing a called third strike.

3-6 record for the Twins against Kansas City

387 feet — the estimated distance of Trevor Plouffe’s home run in the eighth.

ON DECK

The Twins have a scheduled off day Thursday. They open a five-game road trip Friday when they visit the Texas Rangers

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Reusse: Providence benefits from ex-Twin Tapani's coaching Patrick Reusse | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

Kevin Tapani was a senior quarterback and led the Escanaba Eskymos to the Michigan Class 1A championship in 1981. He was unable to earn a trip to the state baseball tournament the following spring.

There was a good reason for this: Escanaba High School did not field a baseball program when Tapani was in attendance.

“Escanaba doesn’t get as much snow as some places in the Upper Peninsula, but with the temperatures, what we did have stuck around,” Tapani said. “We had Legion baseball, and the season lasted from early June to the middle of the July.

“We might have played 15 games. That was it. That was all the baseball we played.”

Tapani smiled.

“They have high school baseball in Escanaba now,” he said. “I don’t how many games they are able to get in.”

Providence Academy will play its 23rd (17-5) on Thursday in the state Class 2A tournament in St. Cloud. The opponent will be Minnehaha Academy, a team that went 17-0 in the Tri-Metro Conference this season, including two victories over Providence.

“We’re the underdogs, but we finally beat Delano in the section,” Tapani said. “Maybe we can get lucky again.”

Tapani is in his third season as the head coach at Providence. It has become more frequent than not for high schools to hire coaches from the outside — men and women with expertise in a sport but no other real affiliation with the school.

“It’s different; you don’t have interaction with the students other than a couple of hours here, at practice,” Tapani said. “You don’t know what’s going on with them in school.”

Tapani was at Bob Koch Field in Loretto for a late afternoon practice on Tuesday. It is 7 miles from Providence Academy, but the ballpark is immaculately kept and the Lions used it as their home field.

Providence prolonged its season by beating Delano 3-2 in an elimination game last Thursday. That ended Delano’s streak of five consecutive state tournaments out of Section 5, Class 2A.

“We never play Delano in the regular season; we only see them in the section tournament,” said Jesse Barron, a senior pitcher and third baseman. “They beat us every year, including 7-1 in the first game last Thursday. It was a great feeling, to finally win a big game with Delano.”

Baron was asked about Tapani, a 12-season big leaguer, as his high school coach.

“It’s a blessing, especially for a pitcher,” Barron said. “I didn’t know about his background, until my parents and others started saying, ‘Kevin Tapani was a big reason the Twins made it to the World Series [in 1991].’ You wouldn’t really know it; he’s very low-key.”

Danny Fafinski, a senior middle infielder, said: “Coach Tap has great stories, but he doesn’t just start in on them. You have to work on him a little.”

Tapani is 14 years removed from his final big-league season with the Chicago Cubs in 2001. The calculations on Baseball Reference credit him with having earned $34,209,500 in a dozen seasons pitching for the Twins, Dodgers, White Sox and the Cubs.

Whatever that leaves after taxes, it was enough for Tapani and his wife Sharon to settle into their home in Wayzata and live the suburban lifestyle of raising three active kids.

Sarah was a multisport athlete at Minnetonka High School. She went to Purdue, then graduate school at Temple and at 24 has an advanced degree in occupational therapy.

Son Ryan is the baseball player. He was ready for his sophomore season at St. Olaf, and then the schedule was shut down by the college because of a hazing incident. Ryan is now playing for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods collegiate league.

Youngest son Lukas just graduated from Providence Academy.

Ryan went to that new and smallish Catholic school in Plymouth and graduated in 2013. He played baseball and hockey. Sharon Tapani volunteered at the school, and Kevin did some work with pitchers for former coach Wes Crawford (now a St. Cloud State assistant).

When Providence needed a head coach for 2013, Tapani took the job — with Herb and Kurt Koch lined up as assistants. The Kochs are the first family of baseball in Loretto, which features the town-team Larks.

Terry Steinbach’s son Luke started playing for the Larks in 2010. Ryan Tapani joined him a couple of years later.

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Big-league sons playing town-team ball. What could be more Minnesotan?

Tapani came to the Twins from the Mets in the Frank Viola trade on July 31, 1989.

He was traded away exactly six years later, in the salary purge of 1995, going to the Dodgers, then the White Sox for one season and the Cubs for five.

“There was never a doubt the Twin Cities was going to be where we lived, even with my six seasons in Chicago,” Tapani said. “Sharon and I are both from Escanaba. This felt like home … only larger.”

Tapani smiled and said: “And not as cold in the winter.”

You only hear that from people who grew up on the UP.

Twins notes: Jorge Polanco continues to work on defense La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015

Hotshot shortstop prospect Jorge Polanco started Wednesday’s game against Kansas City.

Polanco, who was called up in an emergency situation last year when the Twins were shorthanded in Texas, is up this time while Eddie Rosario is away on paternity leave. Rosario will be back Friday when the Twins play at Texas, and Polanco will be optioned to Chattanooga after going 1-for-3 and committing an error in Wednesday’s 7-2 loss to the Royals.

But is Polanco really the Twins’ shortstop of the future?

He’s made a lot of progress at the position in recent years. He was batting .312 with four home runs and 26 RBI at Class AA Chattanooga with 11 stolen bases and 12 errors when he was called up. But Twins officials are split on if he should remain at shortstop.

“I’m not sure that debate is totally over,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “I think a lot of people have bought into the fact that what he’s done in terms of improving both footwork and arm strength, and believe he has a chance to stick at that spot. I don’t think that’s unanimous, but I think it’s a greater percentage than it used to be.

“Those are the biggest things. As he’s gotten bigger and more athletic, his footwork has followed that. He used to get tangled up a little bit, get in between [and] not have a good base when he fielded the ball. Arm strength was a little suspect in the hole when he was younger. Always caught the ball fairly well, and I think it was a matter of him growing into his body and understanding how to make it work the best way.”

His bat is not the problem. Twins assistant general manager Rob Antonywas in Chattanooga last week and returned with praise.

“He was taking the best at-bats of anyone on that team,” Antony said.

More roster moves

Righthander Tim Stauffer was designated for assignment, giving the Twins 10 days to trade him, send him to the minors or release him. Stauffer posted a 6.60 ERA in 15 innings and struggled with a fastball was that three to five miles slower than it was last season.

To replace Stauffer, the Twins recalled righthander Michael Tonkin from Class AAA Rochester, where he was 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA and six saves in 12 games.

Chattanooga gets All-Star recognition

Polanco was one of seven Lookouts players named to the Southern League All-Star team, a list that includes some of the Twins’ top prospects. Third baseman Miguel Sano, outfielder Byron Buxton, outfielder Adam Brett Walker II, pitchers D.J. Baxendale, Jose Berrios and Zach Jones. The game will be played June 23.

Draft concludes

The three-day first-year player draft ended Wednesday with rounds 11-40. When it was all over, the Twins had selected a couple of local players.

One was Gophers lefthander Dalton Sawyer, who had a 2.62 ERA last season but saw it balloon to 4.53 this season. The Twins had Sawyer in for a workout last week and they liked enough of what they saw to select him in the 27th round.

The Twins selected Bloomington Jefferson righthander Jake Irvin in the 37th round. Irvin throws in the low 90s with a good slider. An Oklahoma commit, the Twins are going to follow him during the summer before deciding what bonus to offer him.

Of the 30 players the Twins selected Wednesday, 14 were pitchers and five were catchers.

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Kind gesture

Twins center fielder Jordan Schafer, currently on the disabled list because of a sprained right knee, picked up a lunch tab for a mother and daughter dining at the Uptown Diner in Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon. Schafer offered Sarina McNamara, who recently finished chemotherapy, and her mom, Sue, tickets to Wednesday night’s game against the Royals.

Frustration boils over as Twins swept by Kansas City La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 11, 2015

First went the elbow guard. Then the foot guard. Then the batting gloves.

Torii Hunter then went to the next level, taking his jersey off and flinging it onto the Target Field grass.

A 7-2 loss to the defending AL champion Royals turned explosive in the eighth inning when Hunter and manager Paul Molitor were ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Mark Ripperger. The frustration boiled over as the Royals completed a three-game sweep of a Twins team sputtering on offense and shaky on defense.

“Just a lot of emotions,” Hunter said. “I thought it was a ball. The pitch before that, I thought it was a little up. He called it a strike, that’s fine. I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something about the pitch before that, because it was definitely a ball.”

The 2-2 pitch that led to Hunter’s ejection appeared to be outside, based on replays. Hunter turned to complain to Ripperger and was ejected. Molitor came out to engage Ripperger and was quickly tossed. Both of them yelled at Ripperger until crew chief Jeff Kellogg walked over and moved Hunter away.

“[Hunter has] been emotional this series,” said Molitor, who has been ejected five times as a player, three as a coach and now once as a manager. “I think he’s trying to bring out a part of this team and how to respond. I think that was a little bit more related to his own situation, maybe as it went on possibly.”

At one point Hunter had his forearm across Kellogg’s chest and was warned he was going too far. A moment later, equipment and clothing started coming off. Hunter has been ejected nine times in his career, six as a Twin.

“I thought they were cheering that I was arguing for a change,” Molitor said. “When I turned around, I saw the jersey coming off and then I realized that Torii had not reached the end of his … whatever you want to call it.”

Hunter didn’t leave the field in a timely manner, threw equipment and clothing and came into contact with an umpire. That sets up the possibility of something more than a fine.

“That’s always a possibility,” Molitor said. “I don’t want to predict or speculate how the league office is going to respond to his actions. I’m sure it will be reviewed and considered whether a suspension was appropriate or not.”

The Twins have lost three consecutive games for the first time since April 11-13. After averaging 5.1 runs a game in May — when they went 20-7 — the Twins are averaging 2.5 runs in June.

That’s going to put pressure on the pitching staff to keep the game close and for the defense to be flawless. But an announced crowd of 28,434 watched Wednesday as the Royals found those pressure points and squeezed.

They scored four runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer by Alex Gordon on a high changeup by Twins starter Kyle Gibson. After the Twins scored one run in the third, Hunter and rookie shortstop Jorge Polanco made errors in the fifth as Kansas City’s lead grew to 5-1. Joe Mauer’s throwing error in the seventh led to two more runs.

Then came the volatile eighth.

“You have bad days, all of us,” Hunter said. “Hitters, pitchers and even umpires have bad days and [Ripperger] had one. What can you do? You can’t do anything about them, can’t talk about them, can’t do anything about them. We’ll get in trouble for it. All you need to do is look at the video and decide for yourself.”

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Twins: Ricky Nolasco testing sore ankle after cortisone shot Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco played catch for the second time Wednesday as he tries to recover from a right ankle impingement that sent him to the disabled list for the third time since midseason 2014.

The plan is for Nolasco, who left in the second inning of his last start on May 31, to throw a light bullpen on Thursday and then ramp it up a little more in a second bullpen on Sunday.

If his ankle passes those tests, he could begin a rehab assignment as soon as next week.

"The light pen is because I've been off for a good time from throwing," Nolasco said. "We'll try to get my arm back into it just a little bit. We'll do a heavy one Sunday, then we'll see where we're at."

Nolasco seemed encouraged by how his ankle responded to Saturday's cortisone shot, but he won't know for sure if he's able to pitch until he tests it on a bullpen mound.

"The mound is the biggest thing because there's a rubber there that you're pushing off," he said. "With the angle and the way a pitcher's foot drags, that's obviously what caused it in the first place. We'll see if I can do it or not."

Twins: Jorge Polanco feels more prepared in third call-up Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

For the third time in less than a calendar year, Jorge Polanco has received an emergency call-up to the big leagues.

Each time, the Twins' Double-A shortstop prospect said, he feels a little more prepared.

"The first time when they call you, you get too excited and too emotional," said Polanco, 21. "Now I can handle it better."

Given the start at shortstop for Wednesday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Polanco will bat ninth.

Outfielder Eddie Rosario is due back Friday in Texas after taking paternity leave, and the plan going in was for Polanco to rejoin the Chattanooga club after his latest cameo.

Then again ...

"There's always flexibility," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I think going into it you kind of look at it as a one-day deal because that's the way it's shaped up. We're always, almost daily as of late, talking about roster. The plan is for him to play today and then just go ahead and head on back, at least for the short term."

Errant throws have been a problem this year for Polanco, whose 12 errors are tied with Miguel Sano for second-most in the organization. Molitor stood by watching closely as Polanco took grounders during batting practice.

""I feel a lot better than years ago," Polanco said. "I worked on my throws. Accurate throws, that's the biggest thing. Take my time, make good throws."

The switch-hitter, named this week to the Southern League all-star team, ranks 20th in the league with a .785 combined on-base/slugging percentage. That ranks just fifth, however, on the loaded Lookouts roster.

"I think that's why he's high on a lot of people's radar for guys that can help you somewhere, whether it's this year or down the road," Molitor said. "Those switch hitters ... it's a valuable asset. He's good from both sides. He's starting to show a little bit of pop that we saw in spring training."

Polanco played mostly second base in the Midwest League and in the Dominican Winter League the past few years, but the Twins still see enough potential in him as a shortstop to leave him there for now.

"I'm not sure that debate is totally over," Molitor said. "I think there are people that believe he has a chance to stick at that spot. I don't think it's unanimous, but it's a greater percentage than it used to be."

Molitor noted improvements in Polanco's footwork and arm strength.

"He used to get tangled up a little bit, be in between, not have a good base when he fielded the ball," Molitor said. "Arm strength was a little

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suspect in the hole when he was younger. Always caught the ball fairly well. I just think it was a matter of him growing into his body."

On the basepaths, he has improved as well.

"He runs better now, too," Molitor said. "I never really had him as a threat as a runner. For whatever reason, it seems like he's picked up a step somewhere along the way here the last couple years."

Since the start of 2013, Polanco has stolen 27 bases and been caught eight times, a .771 success rate.

Torii Hunter has an on-field meltdown as Twins swept by Royals Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

Frustration finally boiled over Wednesday night for the free-falling Twins.

After Torii Hunter was called out on strikes in the eighth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals, the 39-year-old right fielder turned and registered his displeasure with plate umpire Mark Ripperger.

Hunter was quickly tossed. Moments later, Twins manager Paul Molitor was ejected as well, and with that the show was on.

"I went out there and tried to protect him," Molitor said. "I became a sideshow to the big show, from what I hear."

Hunter continued yelling at Ripperger from a distance as Molitor and other members of Jeff Kellogg's umpiring crew restrained him. Suddenly, Hunter stopped yelling, reached down and removed both shinguards and flung them onto the field.

Next Hunter ripped off both batting gloves and flung them as the home crowd at Target Field cheered.

"I thought they were cheering that I was arguing for a change," Molitor said. "When I turned around, I saw the jersey coming off and then I realized that Torii hadn't quite reached the end of his whatever you want to call it."

The capper came when Hunter removed his jersey, balled it up and flung it toward the playing surface as his final act of civil disobedience.

With that the veteran clubhouse leader bounded down the dugout steps and headed for the home clubhouse to stew some more.

"I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something the pitch before that," Hunter said. "It was definitely a ball.

You have bad days, all of us, as hitters, pitchers. Even umpires have bad days -- and he had one."

Replays showed the 2-2 fastball from Luke Hochevar was outside. Hunter thought the previous pitch, a cutter called for a strike, was high.

For Hunter, it was his ninth career ejection and sixth with the Twins. Though he was fined for criticizing plate umpire Joe West on Opening Day in Detroit, this was Hunter's first ejection since rejoining his original organization this offseason.

Molitor acknowledged the possibility that Hunter could draw a suspension from Major League Baseball for his actions.

"Just a lot of emotions, man," Hunter said. "What can you do? Can't do nothing about it. Can't talk about them. Can't do anything about them. We get in trouble for it. All you need to do is just look at the video and decide for yourself."

Molitor was ejected five times during his hall of fame playing career and three more times as a big-league coach, but this was the first time he'd been tossed since becoming Twins manager in November.

For the three-game series, Hunter went 0 for 10 with three strikeouts. Two of those strikeouts came Wednesday.

A 39-pitch first inning for Twins starter Kyle Gibson put his team in a four-run hole.

Gibson said he didn't think he was squeezed. Molitor, however, said Ripperger's strike zone "seemed like it was tight."

Alex Gordon's three-run homer in the first inning was the big blow as the reigning American League champions swept the series in convincing fashion.

After getting swept at home for the first time this season, the second-place Twins fell two games off the Royals' pace in the AL Central.

The Twins went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. That left them 5 for 38 (.132) over their past five games, when they have won just once and scored a total of seven runs.

It seemed possible, amid a 3-7 start to June, that Hunter's histrionics were an attempt to jar a Twins team out of its funk. One night before, he said the Twins had seemed "a little flat" since returning home from Boston last week.

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"(Hunter has) been emotional this series," Molitor said. "I think he's trying to bring out a part of this team and how to respond."

Tom Powers: Twins' Mike Pelfrey is healthy and happy for first time in a long time Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

Mike Pelfrey either has resided in baseball heaven or baseball hell during his tenure with the Twins. There has been no neutral turf for him.

This season he is hearing the hosannas while posting a 5-2 record and 2.28 ERA. The two previous seasons he had flames licking at his ankles. It's been emotionally draining for all concerned. Now, from what appeared to be the ashes of his career, he's rediscovered success. And he hasn't just been good. He's been terrific.

The heaven part has been much more enjoyable than everything that's come before it.

"I can easily notice that," Pelfrey said with a laugh, before the Twins' 7-2 loss to the Royals on Wednesday night.

His fellow Twins are thrilled. Not just because of what he's done on the mound, but because he is so popular. He's a big, likeable lug who often bears the brunt of clubhouse pranks. When Pelfrey left the Mets, even the New York media types, who hate everybody, were openly sorry to see him go. He's just a nice, good-natured guy.

Pelfrey is scheduled to pitch again Saturday at Texas as the Twins try to stabilize. They currently are reeling after another loss to the Royals on Wednesday night.

Pelfrey, 31, almost didn't get a chance to shine with Minnesota. He thought about hanging up his spikes while on a rehab assignment to Rochester last season. Ostensibly, he was there to rehab an injured groin that resulted in a trip to the disabled list.

"I did have a groin, but I was terrible and they were probably tired of watching me," Pelfrey said of his status on the DL.

"I went on a rehab assignment and I was still trying to make my way back. That's all I've ever really known, is to pitch. It got to a point where I threw a fastball, and it was 83. And I said 'No, no, no, this isn't good. Something is not right.' I was in the pen and I was throwing the ball 55 feet. The next one is going against the backstop."

He had gone 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA his first year with the Twins after rushing back from Tommy John surgery. In 2014, he found himself 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA and in Rochester throwing lollipop fastballs.

"I remember coming in after I threw one of those pens and I'm at my locker and I'm almost in tears," Pelfrey recalled. "And Josh Willingham (also on rehab) is right there beside me. I said, 'Man, if I didn't sign a two-year contract I'd be done. This is embarrassing.' I said, 'I have no idea what's wrong. Something is not right.' "

Twins general manager Terry Ryan had re-signed Pelfrey to a two-year, $11 million deal, even after that 5-13 year. Mr. Ryan was widely proclaimed to be nuts. Pelfrey appeared to be proving that in 2014.

"Last year was horrible," Pelfrey said. "I went in and told them that I needed to get looked at. Luckily, they found the nerve issue. It was causing the numbness, not being able to feel the fingers."

Which resulted in season-ending elbow surgery.

"I was kind of at a crossroads in my career," he said. "I told myself, if this is it for me I at least owe it to myself to do everything I can. Then if I fail, I can look at myself in the mirror. That was my whole thing."

He worked out hard and started feeling much better in mid-January. His ball had natural movement again. In spring training, he revived his long dormant forkball under the guidance of Eddie Guardado. Everything was going great. Then the Twins told him he was going to work as a reliever. Pelfrey wanted out.

"I wanted to be that guy, that workhorse, that I thought I was with the Mets when I would take the ball for five straight years and not have any problems until I blew out," Pelfrey said. "It just took the wind out of my sails. I obviously said something in the paper and maybe I shouldn't have. But I was frustrated."

By the time the team arrived north, Pelfrey already was in the rotation as Ervin Santana had been suspended. Now he is contributing mightily to an overachieving team, albeit one that may be leveling off.

"The atmosphere in the clubhouse and around the team has changed," he said. "You lose 90-something games and I think that sometimes it doesn't become that big of a deal when you lose a game. Maybe last year you show up at the park and expect to win with Phil Hughes pitching. But it wasn't like that every day.

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"Now, I think if you don't win guys are upset. We expect to win today. It's fun again. It's the way it should be."

First fun he's had here in three years.

Twinsights: Multisport background appeals to Twins scouts Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015 Amid increasing specialization that starts younger and younger, the three-sport high school star is becoming harder to find in baseball’s annual June draft.

“When I started scouting, that’s what the old scouts said: They looked for athletes,” said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson, running his eighth draft for the organization. “Unfortunately, the way it is now, you don’t get a lot of that. A lot of kids don’t play multiple sports.”

Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay, taken with the sixth overall pick this year, was a receiver-returner-punter on his high school football team.

Third-rounder Travis Blankenhorn has a basketball background (see video within), while fellow third baseman Trey Cabbage, taken in the fourth round, was better known on the Tennessee AAU basketball scene until the summer before his senior year in high school, when he dedicated himself to baseball.

“I remember when I was an area scout (starting in 1994),” Johnson said. “C.C. Sabathia is from my hometown (Vallejo, Calif.). He played basketball . I saw him play football as a freshman in high school. He was starting quarterback. You don’t see that much anymore.

“You can find out a lot of stuff about a player. His makeup: Is he aggressive on the court, on the football field? Is he afraid of contact? Does he want to get in there and bang? I think you can find out a lot of stuff about a player when he’s playing other sports.”

I asked Johnson if specialization actually made it harder to scout modern ballplayers.

“It doesn’t make it harder,” he said. “At least I’d like to see a guy that plays multiple sports. Shows athleticism as well.”

Twins general manager Terry Ryan, a member of the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame, learned his craft in an era before specialization drastically changed youth sports.

“I do believe in multisport guys,” he said. “There’s no question about that. I don’t care if it’s wrestling or gymnastics or hockey or basketball. Certainly football. I always liked to see multisport guys just because I know they’re active and they know what teamwork is, all that good stuff that comes with competitiveness.”

Those days, it seems, are mostly gone as year-round travel teams demand one-sport commitment earlier and earlier in a child’s life.

“Nowadays it certainly is different,’ Ryan said. “Specialization has crept into every sport, but there are various guys that still do play multiple sports. It’s not like it’s rare.”

Ryan watched a video clip of Cabbage, for instance, playing basketball.

“Good athlete,” Ryan said. “He can get up there pretty good. He doesn’t struggle to dunk a basketball.”

Jay’s football background, even though it stopped with his senior year of high school, was a “good thing to see,” Ryan said.

“Sounds like he’s very athletic,” Ryan said, while noting “there’s a lot of wear and tear if you’re a football player.”

Class A Fort Myers right-hander Kohl Stewart, taken fourth overall by the Twins in 2013, was a star quarterback who committed to play at Texas A&M.

The days of Joe Mauer, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, John Elway and Danny Ainge may be disappearing, but that doesn’t mean the Twins’ scouting staff won’t keep searching for natural athletes who excel at multiple sports.

“If you go look at a kid, I always make it a point to find out what he does in the fall or winter,” Ryan said. “I’d be apt to have a lot more interest in a multisport guy myself, but that’s just a particular individual choice. (Specialization) is kind of the way things are going.”

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Twinsights: Twins draft two with Minnesota ties on Day 3 Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

Two players with Minnesota ties went to the Twins on the final day of Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft.

University of Minnesota left-hander Dalton Sawyer was selected in the 27th round, and Bloomington Jefferson High School right-hander Jake Irvin went in the 37th round.

Sawyer was one of two pitchers that attended the Twins’ pre-draft workouts at Target Field. The Twins see him as a reliever in pro ball.

Irvin, a University of Oklahoma signee, has a 90-92 mph fastball with a decent slider and a projectable frame.

After failing to draft a catcher in the first 10 rounds, the Twins took five backstops on Day 3. That included 11th-rounder Kerby Camacho, a switch-hitter from Puerto Rico, and 14th-rounder A.J. Murray, a converted outfielder/first baseman from Georgia Tech.

The Twins added two other players from Puerto Rico in this draft: left-hander Jovani Moran (seventh round) and outfielder Lean Marrero (16th round).

“That’s kind of our niche,” Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said. “We’re a threat there. We’ve got good scouts down there. We like that market, we like those players. That’s a part of the country where you can sign high school kids without much of an issue.”

Briefly

–Joe Mauer started a game in the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the first time since last July 1, when he suffered an oblique injury that sidelined him for six weeks. Mauer made 47 starts in the No. 2 slot in 2014, hitting 38 points higher (.299) than when he hit third. His combined on-base/slugging percentage was .774 when batting second last year, 73 points higher than when hitting third.

Postgame Twinsights: Tim Stauffer ready to move on Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 10, 2015

The irony of the decision to designate Tim Stauffer for assignment on Wednesday night was that he was one of the few Twins having a solid June.

In three relief outings this month, the veteran right-hander had struck out four in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of work. He allowed two of his three inherited runners to score on Friday, however, and his final earned run average with the Twins was 6.60.

“Actually I really feel like I turned the corner the last couple weeks,” said Stauffer, who spent time on the disabled list with an intercostal strain. “I’ve been working with (bullpen coach Eddie Guardado) before games. Even the ninth inning tonight, I threw probably one of the better (bullpens) I’ve thrown. At least I’ve got that to take with me.”

Signed to a one-year, $2.2 million deal this offseason, Stauffer had spent his first 12 professional seasons with the San Diego Padres, who drafted him fourth overall out of the University of Richmond in 2003.

“Good things to say about Tim: what he did, how he came in here, how he handled himself,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “It didn’t work out particularly well. We’ll wish him well, and I’m sure he’s going to land somewhere, somehow. Not sure how that’s going to unfold over the next few days, so we’re going to move on to Michael (Tonkin).”

Stauffer, who turned 33 on June 2, said he would probably elect free agency should he clear waivers.

“I’d probably go a different route — fresh start,” he said. “I’m not going to make any decisions today. I’ll wait and see what happens.”

Stauffer, who shares an agent with Twins star Joe Mauer, was apologetic about his overall inability to contribute here the way he had in San Diego. His career ERA remains 3.94 in 590 career big-league innings, including 73 starts.

His fastball velocity was down from the start of spring training, but it gradually crept up as the year progressed. He was topping out at 89 mph on the stadium radar gun in his final Twins appearance on Saturday.

“I get it. It’s a business,” he said. “You’ve got young guys that are doing well. This just kind of happens. Obviously I didn’t pitch how I wanted to pitch. Obviously I would have liked to have done better. Just kind of one of those things.”

Brought in as a swingman and eventually given the long-relief role that had belonged to Anthony Swarzak in recent seasons, Stauffer fell behind rookie Rule 5 pick J.R. Graham in the pecking order.

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“Watching games shake out, there really wasn’t much of a need,” Stauffer said. “Up and down. I just wasn’t able to get any consistency. The team is playing well. I get it. It’s unfortunate. Obviously I’m not happy about it, but it’s part of the game.”

He insisted one last time that his arm is healthy. He had been dogged early in his career by shoulder and elbow problems.

“I feel probably better now than even spring training,” he said. “Everything is feeling good. Arm is feeling strong. Just a matter of getting a chance and putting it all together.”

–Rookie shortstop Jorge Polanco, up from Double-A Chattanooga on a one-game audition, booted Mike Moustakas’ double-play grounder with one down in the fifth.

Polanco then appeared confused on where to go next as Torii Hunter’s off-balance throw from right field sailed off line for his third error this season. That allowed Alcides Escobar to trot home from third with an insurance run.

Joe Mauer was charged with a throwing error that led to two more unearned runs in the seventh when Polanco had to come off the bag at second on a potential force play. That was on Polanco as well; he appeared to have time to grab the throw and return to the bag.

Molitor allowed that the rookie was probably nervous in the field, although Polanco looked fine at the plate. Playing his sixth game in the majors, Polanco reached base twice in four plate appearances.

Polanco was returned to Chattanooga after the game. Outfielder Eddie Rosario (paternity leave) is expected to rejoin the Twins on Friday at Texas.

–Making the 53rd start of his big-league career, Kyle Gibson threw more pitches than he ever had before.

Most of those 117 offerings were made in vain as the Twins were buried from the start.

Gibson’s previous career high was the 110 pitches he threw almost exactly one year ago (June 13) in a 2-0 win at the Detroit Tigers. He needed 39 pitches to escape a four-run first, then gave up just one unearned run over the next five innings.

Molitor said plate umpire Mark Ripperger’s strike zone “seemed like it was tight” in Gibson’s endless first.

“It’s always hard to tell east and west from the side,” Molitor said. “It’s a lot of pitches. We’ve got the charts up in the boxes and all the systems now to go ahead and see what kind of night he actually did have. The first pitch their guy (Edinson Volquez) throws, either the guy caught it really poorly or it was a ball and he called it a strike. It set a tone. Maybe it was a strike. It just seemed like all the (close) pitches Gibson threw (were balls) and then the first pitch the other guy throws (was a strike).”

Torii Hunter strips down in epic ejection tirade -- so bat boy cleans up after him. This is his story Michael Clair | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

Unhappy with a called strike three in the eighth inning on Wednesday night, Torii Hunter got mad. Really mad. Like, probably so mad he was worried that he was going to turn into the Hulk and tear through his uniform and then he'd have to pay back the team's uniform assistant for a new one and that would be a whole thing, so he made the responsible choice: He took it off.

Well, he didn't so much as take it off as he hurled his wristband and jersey as if he was competing in a javelin event, but that's semantics:

Once Hunter was sent to the showers, someone had to pick up all of that dirty laundry. If you ever wondered just who that falls to, well, it's the bat boy:

Here is now his story, told in classic "Law and Order"-style when the bartender never has time to actually stop wiping down the bar to talk to the police:

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD. Bat boy picks up Hunter's gear. Two baseball investigators enter. They look a lot like Ice-T and Richard Belzer.

Baseball Investigator One: Hey, you ever see this guy?

/Holds up picture of Torii Hunter.

Bat boy: Yeah, I seen him. Was just here a few minutes ago. You just missed him.

Investigator Two: You know what happened to him?

Bat boy: Yeah, he was just going about his business at the plate, you know, like he does every day. But something ticked him off -- don't know what, I didn't have a great view. Guessing a call he didn't like or whatever. All of a sudden, flips his lid. Starts arguing with people. That's the last I saw.

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Investigator One: You know who he was arguing with?

Bat boy: Some guy in a mask. But not like a Jason mask or whatever. Like a --

Investigator Two: Like an umpire's mask?

Bat boy: Yeah, that's it. Started arguing with a guy in an umpire's mask. Next thing I know, clothes come off and Hunter's gone. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get back to the dugout. We got baseball to play.

Batboy exits. Investigators look at each other with a meaningful stare. DUN DUN.

Milone, Twins aim to get on track against Rangers Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

The Twins will look to get back on track as Tommy Milone squares off against fellow left-hander Wandy Rodriguez of the Rangers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at Globe Life Park.

The Rangers have won six consecutive series and are looking to make it seven after winning the opener of a three-game set against the A's on Tuesday. However, most of their success this season has been on the road with an 11-15 mark at home.

Three things to know about this game

• Rodriguez is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. The Rangers have won six of the last seven times in his starts. His last time out, Rodriguez gave up just one run in seven innings in one of his longest outings of the season.

• Milone will make his sixth start overall and his second since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Last time out, Milone gave up four runs -- two earned -- in five innings against Boston.

• Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario is expected to return on Friday after missing Wednesday's game to go on paternity leave. Shortstop Jorge Polanco was called up for the finale against the Royals.

Twins designate Stauffer, will recall Tonkin Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Reliever Tim Stauffer was designated for assignment following the Twins'7-2 loss to the Royals on Wednesday night at Target Field.

Michael Tonkin will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester for the Twins' series against Texas that starts on Friday. Also, left fielder Eddie Rosario is expected to return after a one-game paternity leave and shortstop Jorge Polanco will return to Double-A Chattanooga.

Stauffer was 1-0 with a 6.60 ERA in 15 innings season. He logged a 3.50 ERA in 61 1/3 innings last year with San Diego and the Twins signed him to a one-year, $2.2 million contract in the offseason.

"[I have] good things to say about Tim and what he did, how he came in here, how he handled himself," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It didn't work out particularly well and we'll wish him well. I'm sure he's going to land somewhere, somehow. I'm not sure how that's going to unfold in the next few days so we're going to move on to Michael."

Tonkin pitched in 12 games for the Twins this season, compiling a 5.63 ERA before being optioned to the Minors at the end of May. He was 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA at Rochester.

Polanco, the team's No. 7 prospect according to MLB.com, played Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with a walk. He also made an error.

"I'm sure he was a little nervous. I mean he doesn't have a lot of time up here. He took good at-bats all night long and defensively ... it looked like he got a little bit in between on how to play the ball," Molitor said. "I'm not sure if he was trying to decide more about what to do if he caught it, if he should take it himself or flip it and a little distraction of thought maybe created him getting the wrong hop."

Polanco was hitting .312 in 52 games at Double-A Chattanooga before the one-game callup.

"It was good to see him," Molitor said. "He's having a really good year and another valuable game for him just in terms of gaining experience at what the big league game's about, speed of the game especially."

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Twins fan Sawyer drafted by hometown team Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Having grown up as a Twins fan in Waconia, Minn., University of Minnesota left-hander Dalton Sawyer couldn't believe it when his hometown team selected him in the 27th round of the 2015 MLB Draft on Wednesday.

Sawyer, 21, knows how fortunate he is to be in this position, especially after being involved in a serious car crash with his Northwoods League teammate Kasey Ralston the summer before his sophomore year. Sawyer suffered a broken rib, a collapsed lung and a concussion, but he was able to resume his college career only months later, then realized his dream just two years after that when he was drafted Wednesday.

"It really put life into perspective," Sawyer said. "Baseball is hopefully going to be my job here in the next week, but ultimately, it's just a game and there are things that are more important like the good Lord and family. So it just opened my eyes to all that I'm so blessed with. The bouncing back, that was no problem at all. We were both alive."

After the accident, he was still able to have the best season of his college career as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder led the Gophers in wins (six), saves (six) and appearances (21) while posting a 2.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 23 walks in 44 2/3 innings.

Sawyer's junior year wasn't as strong -- he had a 4.53 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 32 walks in 49 2/3 innings -- but he made eight starts after being used as strictly reliever as a sophomore. The Twins still saw enough to draft him after seeing him in a private workout at Target Field.

"He struggled this year, but threw in our workout on Thursday and actually threw OK," Twins scouting director Deron Johnson. "He'll probably go out as a reliever, and we'll see how he can do."

Sawyer is looking to become the latest player from the University of Minnesota to play for the Twins, as he hopes to join Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield, as well as current closer Glen Perkins, Terry Steinbach and Denny Neagle. Sawyer knew the Twins had interest, but he wasn't sure if he'd be drafted by them.

"It was awesome," Sawyer said. "They're the team I grew up watching my entire life. It was just very cool to hear them call my name. I knew the Twins were interested, but at that point in those later rounds, you never know what will happen, so it was definitely a surprise. So I'm just honored they'd even consider me."

While Sawyer was just looking to get drafted, he said it was even more special that it was the Twins who picked him on Wednesday. He's expected to sign and forgo his senior year to turn professional and try to accomplish his next goal of reaching the Majors.

"It honestly would've been a dream come true if anyone picked me, but the fact it was the team I grew up watching ever since I was 3 years old is just kinda surreal," Sawyer said. "It's cool."

Plouffe's homer isn't enough to slow Royals Jeffrey Flanagan and Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Alex Gordon clubbed a three-run homer and Edinson Volquez fired seven strong innings as the Royals rolled to a 7-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep at Target Field.

The Twins came into the series with a one-game lead in the AL Central, but now trail the Royals by two games. The Royals came into this series having lost nine of 12.

"We kind of expected that once we got out of the slump we could get on a roll again," manager Ned Yost said.

Gordon's homer, his seventh, capped a four-run first for the Royals off starter Kyle Gibson.

Gibson labored through six innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs while walking two and striking out six. He threw 117 pitches.

Volquez gave up six hits and one earned run, while helping preserve a tired bullpen that was without Wade Davis and Greg Holland. Volquez walked three and struck out six.

"I had a good fastball early and late, but kind of lost it in the middle," Volquez said. "But my changeup saved me there in the fifth and sixth."

Minnesota's Torii Hunter was ejected for arguing after being called out on strikes by home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger in the eighth. It was the ninth career ejection for Hunter, who then proceeded to fire his batting gloves and jersey onto the field. Manager Paul Molitor also was ejected, his first as a skipper.

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"I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something the pitch before that," Hunter said of Ripperger. "We have bad days, all of us. As hitters, pitchers, even umpires have bad days, and he had one."

Molitor said he told Ripperger that he "had a bad night."

"I thought they were cheering that I was arguing for a change, but when I turned around, I saw the jersey coming off and then I realized that Torii hadn't quite reached the end of his whatever you want to call it," Molitor said.

Gordon said of Hunter, "Everybody loves and respects Torii in our clubhouse. Maybe he was just trying to fire everyone up."

Added Yost, "A lot of times you just see yelling and screaming. This time we got a little striptease."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Gordon's blast: The Royals punched a hole in the game in the first inning. After Eric Hosmer singled in the game's first run, Gordon faced Gibson with two on and two out. Gordon belted a 3-2 changeup over the right-field fence for a three-run homer that gave the Royals a commanding 4-0 lead. According to Statcast™, the homer was projected to land 383 feet from home plate and left the stadium at a velocity of 103 mph.

"They threw me a 3-2 changeup yesterday and I swung through it," Gordon said. "I had it in the back of my mind to look for a changeup. I got it."

Added Yost, "That was nice to give everyone breathing room and some cushion."

Sloppy on defense: Three errors led to three unearned runs. Jorge Polanco and Hunter made errors on the same play in the fifth inning. Polanco made an error on a grounder which ended up in right field, and Hunter made a wild throw, allowing Alcides Escobar to score. In the seventh, a Joe Mauer throw pulled Polanco off of second, which paved the way for two unearned runs.

Moustakas atones: Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas booted a potential double-play ball by Kurt Suzuki in the sixth and suddenly the Twins had runners on first and second with none out. The Twins were down, 5-1, but could have crept back in it. But with one out, Shane Robinson hit a grounder right at Moustakas, who fielded it cleanly this time, stepped on third and threw to first for a double play.

Plouffe comes through: Third baseman Trevor Plouffe drove in both of the Twins' runs. Plouffe has been slumping lately, but with two on and two outs in the third, he delivered a single right up the middle off of Volquez, driving in Aaron Hicks. Plouffe added a solo home run to left in the eighth.

ROYALS WIN CHALLENGE The Royals challenged a play at second base in the seventh when first baseman Mauer, trying to get a force on Salvador Perez, threw wide to shortstop Polanco. Perez originally was ruled out. But the call was overturned as it appeared on replay that Polanco's foot came off the bag before he had possession.

WHAT'S NEXT Royals: After an off-day on Thursday, right-hander Yordano Ventura starts on Friday when the I-70 Series against the Cardinals resumes at 7:15 p.m. CT. Ventura will be making his Busch Stadium debut. He lost to the Cards in May, giving up four runs over seven innings.

Twins: Left-hander Tommy Milone starts the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers at Globe Life Park on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Milone is making just his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester. He gave up four runs -- two earned -- in five innings against Boston in his previous start.

Torii, Molitor ejected for arguing ball, strikes Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

MINNESOTA -- Twins outfielder Torii Hunter was ejected for arguing after being called out on strikes in the eighth inning and manager Paul Molitor also was run by home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger as the Royals completed a three-game sweep with a 7-2 win on Wednesday night at Target Field.

It was the ninth career ejection for Hunter, who then proceeded to fire his batting gloves and jersey onto the field. Molitor's ejection was his first as skipper.

"I thought it was a ball. The pitch before that I thought it was a little up and he called it a strike," Hunter said. "That's fine, but I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something the pitch before."

Molitor went out to try to restrain Hunter before he was ejected.

"I just told [Ripperger] that he had a bad night, or what I thought wasn't a very good night and he told me he had a really good night," Molitor said.

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Shortly after the game, Molitor said he hadn't seen a replay of the pitch and missed most of Hunter's theatrics.

"I thought they were cheering that I was arguing for a change, but when I turned around, I saw the jersey coming off and then I realized that Torii hadn't quite reached the end of his whatever you want to call it," Molitor said.

Hunter appeared to have made contact with one of the umpires and could be facing a suspension.

"That's always a possibility," Molitor said. "I don't want to try and predict or speculate how the league offices are going to respond to his actions. I'm sure it would be reviewed and considered as to whether a suspension is appropriate or not."

Hunter went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. His first strikeout was swinging.

Minnesota has won three of its last 10 games after scoring three runs in as many games against Kansas City.

"I think the frustration has been there over the past week as results have changed for us, at least here in the short term and so things get magnified," Molitor said. "An umpire never has a perfect night and it just seemed like in Torii's case, there [were a] couple pitches throughout the night that he had taken a little bit of an exception to."

Earlier this season, Hunter criticized umpire Joe West after a game-ending strikeout call.

"We have bad days, all of us. As hitters, pitchers, even umpires have bad days and he had one," Hunter said of Ripperger. "All you need to do is just look at the video and decide for yourself."

Twins prefer flamethrowers in '15 Draft class Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- After selecting a pair of hard-throwers on Day 1 of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Twins picked a slew of position players on the second day before wrapping up the final day with 30 more picks on Wednesday.

Their crown jewel is Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay, who was taken with the No. 6 overall pick and is regarded by experts as the most Major League-ready player in the Draft. Minnesota added another college flamethrower in the Competitive Balance B Round, selecting 6-foot-7 right-hander Kyle Cody.

They both fit the mold of the type of pitchers the Twins have been drafting in recent years, as they've moved away from taking soft-tossing strike-throwers.

"We've been kind of been trending toward power arms," scouting director Deron Johnson said. "It's a philosophy we've gone to the last few years. A lot of our scouts are scouting that way as well."

On Day 2, the Twins went with six position players among their eight picks, including a pair of highly regarded high school third basemen in Travis Blankenhorn and Trey Cabbage. They also nabbed a pair of lefties in Maryland reliever Alex Robinson and Puerto Rico high school starter Jovani Moran.

Moran was one of three Puerto Ricans selected by the Twins, joining catcher Kerby Camacho (10th round) and right fielder Lean Marrero (16th). The Twins have had success adding Puerto Rican players in recent years with talents such as Kennys Vargas, Eddie Rosario and top prospect Jose Berrios.

"It's kind of our niche," Johnson said. "We're a threat there. We have good scouts down there and we like those players."

Among their 40 selections, the Twins drafted 11 right-handed pitchers, seven left-handed pitchers, six infielders, 11 outfielders and five catchers. Of those 40, 26 were drafted out of college and 14 out of high school. Minnesota also made two local selections, picking University of Minnesota lefty Dalton Sawyer (27th round) and Bloomington Jefferson High School right-hander Jake Irvin (37th).

Johnson said he expects that more than 20 of the players drafted will sign, and said he doesn't anticipate having any trouble signing any of their top 10 picks. They have $7.39 million total in slot money for their first 10 picks, which ranks as the 12th most in the Majors.

They could save money with their seventh-round selection, Cal senior Chris Paul, to free up more money for later picks. Minnesota took a pair of intriguing high school pitchers in right-handers Kyle Wilson (19th round) and Colton Eastman (20th), and could use any extra money to try to sway them from their college commitments.

Even if they can't sign either pitcher, Johnson said he still comes away pleased with the way the Draft went with the Twins.

"We got some guys we liked," Johnson said. "But it's always tough to say now because we'll have to wait five years. But overall, I'm happy with the guys we drafted and the guys we're probably going to sign."

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Recent re-stock on pitchers had Twins turning focus to other positions Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins in recent years have begun to stock up on power pitching through the first-year player draft, and as a result they've got quite a few moving through their minor league system.

Pitchers with a big arm like Nick Burdi, Jake Reed, Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Michael Cederoth, J.O. Berrios and J.T. Chargois, among others, have populated the minor leagues after being taken by the Twins in the previous three drafts.

"Yeah we've kind of been trending to power arms. I would say that's some philosophy that we've gone to the last few years," scouting director Deron Johnson said. "And a lot of our scouts are starting to scout that way."

In fact, in the past three drafts, the Twins have used 22 of their first 30 picks on pitchers. (Eight of 10 in 2014; six of 10 in 2013; and eight of 10 in 2012.)

Resultantly, the Twins have plenty of arms in the system that they can feel good about. Of course, it still becomes a matter of making it to the Majors, but there's something to be said for having a farm system seemingly busting at the seams with high-potential starters and relievers.

And in part because they have that deep well of talent down below, the Twins were able to focus on position players in the first 10 rounds of the 2015 MLB first-year player draft. They selected college pitchers in the first two rounds on Day 1, and then on Day 2, six of their eight selections were position players. That included two third basemen, a shortstop, a first baseman and a pair of outfielders.

Johnson said that was a concerted effort in this year's draft, because the Twins had spent recent years re-loading on pitching.

"It's nice to get swing-and-miss stuff, absolutely," Johnson said. "You see it up here [in the Majors] every day: everybody can hit a fastball. You've got to have something else to come with it. If they show that [ability] at a young age, that's a plus. And those type of guys, they don't stay on the [draft] board too long."

The drafting pitching philosophy may have taken a turn the past several years under Johnson, and certainly has evolved as the game continues to progress.

Things were different when Ryan was the scouting director. And that's not to say better or worse, just different. Ryan quipped that so much has changed with the draft since he began scouting - he can remember one big difference between now and his early scouting days: "We didn't have voicemail."

But then he also got serious addressing the relative need for power pitching as baseball seems to be evolving to be geared more toward strikeouts than at any time in recent history.

"When I was the scouting director, we didn't take power arms [as often], possibly," general manager Terry Ryan said. "Whatever works. I don't care if they're power arms as long as they get people out."

Ryan said that while the power pitching and high strikeout numbers are nice to have, there are cautionary tales.

There are pitchers seemingly every year who possess a big fastball and just can't throw enough strikes to succeed in the Majors. Then there are also examples like Brad Radke, whom Terry Ryan drafted in the eighth round of 1991 draft. He went on to have a great career without the prototypical power arm.

"Some of those power arms [the Twins have in the minors] aren't quite here yet, and we need to gauge exactly what type of productivity we get out of them," Ryan said. "We've got some guys that can wing it up there pretty good and it's exciting to see, but also they're going to have to have supplementary pitches to be able to thrive up here and that's a work in progress with a lot of them."

"We've got some things here to work with, there's no doubt about that," Ryan said.

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GM Ryan willing to make move to upgrade Twins if opportunity exists Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Around this time last season, the Twins took a gamble and it failed. The idea appeared sound, but the player on which they gambled just didn't live up to expectations.

Kendrys Morales was a free agent at the time of the June draft last year in large part because signing him before that would have meant parting with a high draft pick.

So once the draft came, the Twins felt they were close to contending and pounced. They signed Morales 'off the street' to a prorated contract that wound up paying him about $7.5 million.

It was an aggressive move that signaled the Twins and Terry Ryan were serious about their belief in their ability to contend.

Unfortunately for the Twins, he was awful in Minnesota. He batted just .234/.259/.325 without providing value in the field. The Twins were 29-32 at the time of the signing and just 5 games back in the American League Central standings. Then they went 17-23 with Morales on their roster and fell 12 games out of first place as the Detroit Tigers took off.

A week before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Twins dumped the rest of his salary on the Seattle Mariners in exchange for reliever Stephen Pryor.

This year has been a different story for Morales, who signed with the Royals this offseason and had the benefit of attending spring training. Entering play Wednesday, the 31-year-old was hitting .292/.355/.476 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs, including a two-run shot against Phil Hughes on Monday.

But Twins general manager Terry Ryan said he'd take a similar shot this year if the right opportunity presented itself. In other words, one swing and a miss hasn't made the Twins' GM gun-shy.

"I would do it again if I had an opportunity," Ryan said with the Royals in town this week. "It just didn't work."

"We'll see. We're all in the phase here -- We're doing pretty good and we certainly have to have our eyes open," Ryan said, when asked if he'd pull the trigger on another move this year aimed at improving his club's chances. "We're in contention, there's no secret here. We have an opportunity to do some things and hopefully we'll be able to."

The Twins should get Ervin Santana back from his suspension in early July if all goes according to plan. That would be like a trade for a starting pitcher without giving up an asset. They also might have minor league reinforcements ready to contribute at some point. But that doesn't mean they can't swing a trade or two to upgrade their roster for a possible run to the postseason.

As for Morales, one theory goes that last year didn't go his way because he didn't have any spring training seasoning to prepare for the season. He just jumped from working out to playing in games.

"I would say there's a lot to that," Ryan said. "Obviously he's doing well for Kansas City, but last year even when he was traded over to Seattle, he struggled. I just think he never got caught up last year, that's all.

"There's nothing we can do about it, there's no blame game here. He just missed a lot of time and he didn't look like he caught up. He was always in that phase of trying to catch up and it just didn't happen. ... Everything was in order, but he was just a long way behind. It was a battle."

What to make of Omar Infante getting voted ahead of Brian Dozier Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS - After a somewhat surprising run to the World Series last postseason, the Royals evidently are the darlings of Major League Baseball.

The latest All-Star voting update was published this week and the Royals, who have taken the first two games from the Twins to overtake first place in the American League Central, remain on top of the world.

At catcher: Salavador Perez leads all vote getters.

At first base: Eric Hosmer leads all vote getters.

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At second base: Omar Infante is second despite not having the numbers to belong in the game.

At third base: Mike Moustakas leads all vote getters.

At shortstop: Alcides Escobar leads all vote getters.

At designated hitter: Kendrys Morales leads all vote getters.

In the outfield: Lorenzo Cain is first, Alex Gordon is third and Alex Rios is fourth.

For the record, Infante, who has made one All-Star team, is hitting .217/.226/.300. Brian Dozier, meanwhile, is batting .265/.343/.520 with 11 home runs. That's nearly a 120-point advantage in on-base percentage for Dozier and a 220-point advantage in slugging percentage.

As for the outfield, the only person that prevented Royals outfielders from sweeping the podium is the best player on the planet, Mike Trout.

Seriously.

This isn't to say that some Royals don't belong in the game, but it's amazing to note that in what amounts to a popularity contest, Kansas City is suddenly the belle of the ball.

Lorenzo Cain joined Keith Olbermann from Target Field this week to talk about the voting and how the Royals are going about defending their A.L. pennant. They've won the first two games of the three-game series against the Twins to take over the lead in the division.

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Olbermann asked if the Royals are the best team in history or if they're simply benefiting from having great fan support.

"I guess I'm going to have to say both," Cain said, with a grin.

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I did a radio interview Tuesday on a Kansas City sports talk station, 810 WHB, and the question came up about how Twins fans view this voting surge by their A.L. Central foes.

Truthfully I don't know how Twins fans view it -- whether they think it's cool that a small-market team can make such a drastic turnaround by making an improbable World Series run, or if they are irked by the fact that Infante is in the top-5 at second base and Brian Dozier is not.

Twins recap from Day 3 of MLB first-year player draft Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins on Wednesday wrapped up the final day of the three-day MLB first-year player draft. They selected 40 players in total, and expect to sign at least half of them, according to scouting director Deron Johnson.

After drafted a pair of college pitchers on the first day in Tyler Jay and Kyle Cody, Minnesota turned its focus to position players, as six of the next eight picks were position players.

Day 3 was more of a mix. Here's the breakdown by position.

Catchers: 5

First basemen: 1

Second basemen: 0

Shortstops: 1

Third basemen: 0

Outfielders: 9

Left-handed pitchers: 4

Right-handed pitchers: 10

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Below is the list of the Twins' selections from rounds 11-40.

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Round Pick No. Player Position

11 320 Kerby Camacho C

12 350 Zander Wiel 1B

13 380 Cody Stashak RHP

14 410 A.J. Murray C

15 440 Antony McIver LHP

16 470 Lean Marrero RF

17 500 Nate Gercken RHP

18 530 Daniel Kihle CF

19 560 Kyle Wilson RHP

20 590 Colton Eastman RHP

21 620 Kamran Young OF

22 650 Blake Cederlind RHP

23 680 Alex Perez SS

24 710 Jaylin Davis CF

25 740 Logan Lombana RHP

26 770 Tyler Williams RF

27 800 Dalton Sawyer LHP

28 830 Jonathan Engelmann RF

29 860 Brad Hartong C

30 890 Greg Popylisen CF

31 920 Tristan Pompey LF

32 950 Andrew Vazquez LHP

33 980 Colin Theroux C

34 1,010 Brian Olson C

35 1,040 Hector Lujan RHP

36 1,070 Rich Condeelis RHP

37 1,100 Jake Irvin RHP

38 1,130 Alex McKenna CF

39 1,160 Daniel Tillo LHP

40 1,190 Max Cordy RHP

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Torii Hunter, Paul Molitor ejected after arguing umpire’s strike call Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Torii Hunter and Paul Molitor were ejected Wednesday in the 8th inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals.

Hunter proceeded to throw a tantrum on the field, as he took off several items of protective gear and threw them onto the field after his ejection. He also took off his No. 48 jersey and threw that in the direction of the field as well as he was being led back to dugout.

Hutner could face a suspension, as he made contact with first-base umpire Jeff Kellogg, who was trying to hold Hunter back from arguing further with home plate umpire Mark Ripperger.

Ripperger had called a third strike against Hunter in the 8th inning of a 7-2 ballgame. Hunter strongly disagreed with the call and his words got him tossed. Molitor ran out of the dugout in an attempt to protect Hunter, he said, and shortly thereafter he too was ejected.

It's the ninth ejection of Hunter's career, his sixth as a Twin. It was Molitor's first career ejection as a manager.

The umpires declined comment after Wednesday's game.

Tim Stauffer designated for assignment, Twins to recall Michael Tonkin Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins on Wednesday designated reliever Tim Stauffer for assignment. To take his place on the active roster they recalled Michael Tonkin from Triple-A Rochester.

Stauffer, who signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract this offseason, turned out to be a bad signing for the Twins.

He pitched just 15 innings in the Majors and allowed 13 runs, with a 6:7 strikeouts-to-walk ratio. He struggled in spring training, too, and never really got it going in the Twins' bullpen. Manager Paul Molitor rarely used him in critical situations.

He's no longer on the 40-man roster and the Twins will have 10 days to trade Stauffer, send him through waivers or release him.

Polanco returned

Shortstop Jorge Polanco was returned to Double-A Chattanooga after Wednesday's game. That was according to plan for the Twins, who had placed Eddie Rosario on the paternity list for Wednesday's game.

They brought up Polanco as a reinforcement and he started at shortstop, with mixed results.

Polanco reached base twice with a walk and a hit, but he had a shaky day in the field and was charged with one error and earned first baseman Joe Mauer an error, too, when he came off the bag during an attempted forceout on a throw from Mauer.

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Hunter’s tantrum, Polanco’s stint, early deficit Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins entered a showdown with the Royals this week atop the American League Central. But Kansas City completed a 3-game sweep Wednesday with a 7-2 win. Torii Hunter made sure the Twins at least went down with some fireworks.

This column presents 5 thoughts from Wednesday's game.

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1. Torii Hunter caused a scene near the end of Wednesday's game after he was ejected.

Hunter got tossed for arguing balls and strikes and then after his manager came to his defense (and was also ejected), Hunter began taking off protective gear and throwing it on the field. At one point he was restrained and guided back toward the dugout.

That culminated with Hunter taking his jersey off his back and throwing that toward the playing field as well. Hunter was arguing a third strike call, but it's pretty clear the tantrum was based on more than his disagreeing with one third strike call.

Hunter said after the game that he thought home plate umpire Mark Ripperger had a bad day. Molitor said essentially the same thing, and

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added that that's what got him ejected for the first time in his short managerial career. It was Hunter's ninth time getting tossed.

The umpires declined a request for comment after the game.

Hunter could face a suspension because he made contact with first-base umpire Jeff Kellogg, who was attempting to restrain Hunter after he'd already been ejected.

2. Kyle Gibson ran into trouble in his start Wednesday, and before the first inning was over, the Twins were staring up at a 4-0 hole.

Gibson picked up a pair of strikeouts with his slider in the first inning, but before the final out he had walked a batter and given up three hits, including a 3-run home run to Alex Gordon. Gibson went to a changeup in a full count against Gordon, who roped it into the seats in right field.

Gibson pitched well enough after that, but with the way the Twins' bats have been going lately, the 4-0 deficit was too much to overcome. The Royals tacked on three runs later in the game thanks to some poor fielding by the Twins, and Kansas City completed the sweep with a 7-2 win.

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3. Jorge Polanco started at shortstop in his one-game stint with the Twins, and it was with mixed results.

Polanco, 21, reached base twice in his four plate appearances, with a walk and a single up the middle. But he was erratic in the field and was charged with an error. He also cost first baseman Joe Mauer an error.

There's still internal debate in the Twins organization about whether Polanco's future is at shortstop or at second base. Brian Dozier is locked in at second base, and shortstop is much more up in the air. From conversations I've had, it sounds like there are people with the Twins who still believe in Danny Santana is the long-term answer at the position.

It never hurts to have depth - especially in the middle infield - but it will be interesting to see how the Twins handle Polanco going forward, as he rejoins a loaded Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts team.

Twins assistant GM Rob Antony was in Chattanooga last week scouting the Lookouts and he complimented Polanco by saying that he "took the best at bats."

"He takes professional t bats and has the ability to get a pitch he can hit," Antony said.

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4. The Twins were charged with three errors in the game and generally were not nearly as effective as the Royals in the field this series.

Polanco's error -- combined with Torii Hunter's mistake in the outfield -- led to the Royals' fifth run.

With a runner on first base and one out, Mike Moustakas hit a ball to shortstop that Polanco booted off the heel of his glove and into right field. The runner, Alcides Escobar round second and took third, as Moustakas reached first base.

Hunter compounded the mistake by lackadaisically throwing it back into the infield - to no one in particular. Hunter's throw sailed wide of Rosario and rolled almost all the way to the third base foul line before Trevor Plouffe scooped it up. That overthrow allowed Escobar plenty of time to score.

It may not have been the easiest play in the world for Polanco. But a hard-hit groundball to the shortstop with a runner on first base should result in a double play, or at least an out. Instead, it resulted in a run and no outs because of a pair of misplays.

Later in the game, Polanco appeared to cost Mauer a throwing error by coming off the bag prematurely on an attempted force out at second base. Mauer fielded a ground ball in the seventh inning and went to throw out the runner at second base, where Polanco was waiting on the bag for the force out. The throw was off the line to the third-base side, but it appeared as though Polanco should have been able to catch it and stay on the base, or catch it and return to tag the base. He did neither, the runner was safe, and Mauer was charged with an error.

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5. Trevor Plouffe hit a home run in the 8th inning and may be through his slump. Entering Wednesday, Plouffe was just 2-for-32 with one walk and nine strikeouts in eight June games. But he had tripled high off the right field wall on Tuesday night.

Plouffe laced an RBI single in the third inning Wednesday, and then followed that with his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the eighth inning. (The next batter was Hunter, who was called out on strikes and then things got interesting.)

Slumps are funny things, because we can't accurately predict when they'll begin or end. The guess here is that Plouffe will begin to pick up it. That, in turn, should be a boost to the Twins' offense, which is in something of a collective slump so far this month.

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Royals top Twins, complete sweep Associated Press | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Kansas City Royals reclaimed first place with a resounding three-game sweep on the road of division rival Minnesota.

The Twins were beaten so soundly, well, they lost their shirt.

One of them, at least.

Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer, Edinson Volquez struck out six batters over seven innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Twins 7-2 on Wednesday, a night spiced up in the eighth inning by an ejection of Torii Hunter that prompted an equipment-throwing tantrum by the Minnesota star.

"You know what he's trying to do. He's trying to fire everybody up and get `em going," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "They've been in a little slow bat period themselves, and he's trying to get everybody fired up and get `em going. It's a bit entertaining."

Hunter was heaved by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger for arguing a called third strike. Hunter had to be restrained briefly, before yanking off his elbow pad, shin guard and batting gloves and throwing them around the batter's box area.

Then Hunter ripped off his jersey and hurled that over the first-base line, before retreating to the dugout.

"We have bad days, all of us, as hitters, pitchers. Even umpires have bad days, and he had one," Hunter said.

Hunter has long been a fiery player, but his blow-up likely wouldn't have happened had the Twins not been swept at home for the first time this season. Manager Paul Molitor was given his first career ejection during the conflict, too.

Was that satisfying to see for the Royals, who arrived at Target Field on Monday trailing the Twins by one game in the American League Central?

"No, I find satisfaction in winning baseball games. To get out of town sweeping the series, it's a good feeling," Yost said.

The Twins scored 11 runs while stumbling to a 1-5 record on this homestand. They hadn't been swept since the opening series of the season at Detroit.

Volquez (5-4) pitched the Royals to victory by reaching the seven-inning mark for only the second time in his last nine starts. He scattered seven singles, walking two.

"With our pitching staff, the way they've done it the past three games makes our offense feel comfortable even though we're not scoring a lot of runs," Gordon said.

The Royals went 2-9 over an 11-game stretch until Sunday. Now they've won four in a row.

"You're going to have slumps throughout the season. It's how you respond to it," Gordon said. "We kept our heads up. It was frustrating at times, but we knew we were going to get out of it and play some better baseball, and that's what we're doing now."

Kyle Gibson (4-4) found a groove after Gordon's big hit, finishing six innings with six strikeouts while allowing five hits and two walks, but he had little help. Plouffe, whose triple in the seventh was Minnesota's only hit against Chris Young the night before, homered off Luke Hochevar in the eighth.

Gibson had a 2.03 ERA in the five previous starts of his career against the Royals, and he was in command again.

Except for that first inning.

Eric Hosmer's single drove in the first run. With two outs and a full count, Gibson left enough of a changeup over the plate for Gordon to drive it into the right-field seats for a 4-0 lead. The Royals stretched their lead with two of their three unearned runs in the seventh against J.R. Graham, including an RBI single by Mike Moustakas.

Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco went 1 for 3 with a walk in his season debut and was charged with one of three errors by the Twins. He was returned to Double-A Chattanooga after the game. Outfielder Eddie Rosario is expected from paternity leave on Friday.

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Twins tweak roster following loss, designate Stauffer for assignment Tyler Mason | Fox Sports North | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Following Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Kansas City, the Minnesota Twins made several roster moves. Most notably, right-hander Tim Stauffer was designated for assignment.

To take Stauffer's spot on the roster, Minnesota recalled right-hander Michael Tonkin from Triple-A Rochester. The Twins also sent shortstop Jorge Polanco back to Double-A Chattanooga. Polanco was called up as an extra player while outfielder Eddie Rosario was on the paternity list.

Stauffer, who previously spent nine seasons with the San Diego Padres, signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract in December and he made the club out of spring training as a bullpen arm. But Stauffer struggled during his brief time in Minnesota and also had a stint on the disabled list. In 13 games with the Twins, the 33-year-old Stauffer had a 6.60 ERA and just six strikeouts in 15 innings. He also walked seven batters and allowed four home runs during that stretch.

"It didn't work out particularly well," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "We'll wish him well. I'm sure he's going to land somewhere, somehow."

Tonkin has been up in the majors twice already this season. In 12 games with the Twins this year, Tonkin had a 5.63 ERA with seven strikeouts in eight innings. With Triple-A Rochester, he posted a 1.54 ERA in 12 relief appearances.

Polanco made his season debut Wednesday with Minnesota and was 1 for 3 with a walk, but he also committed an error at shortstop that eventually led to a Kansas City run.

"He took good at-bats all night long," Molitor said. "It's good to see him. He's having a really good year. Another valuable game for him."

Veteran Hunter throws a fit during Twins’ setback Tyler Mason | Fox Sports North | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- As if the Minnesota Twins' frustration wasn't already evident, Torii Hunter ripped off his jersey and threw it on the field just to make things clear.

Hunter was ejected in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Kansas City after arguing a called third strike. Home plate umpire Mark Ripperger allowed Hunter to get in a few words before Hunter earned his ninth career ejection. Soon after, first-year manager Paul Molitor received the first ejection of his brief managerial career.

But Hunter wasn't done. He continued to yell at Ripperger, letting his emotions show as he got up into the umpire's face. At one point, Molitor had to restrain his right fielder before Hunter then took off his elbow pad and batting gloves and threw them onto the field in anger.

More clothing came off soon thereafter. Hunter took off his No. 48 jersey and threw it toward the pitcher's mound, landing it just on the other side of the first-base line. It was the boiling point for a Twins team that was swept by the Royals and fell from first place to second in the American League Central.

"Just a lot of emotions, man," Hunter said after the game. "I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something the pitch before that, because it was definitely a ball. We have bad days, all of us -- as hitters, pitchers. Even umpires have bad days, and he had one. What can you do?"

It remains to be seen if Hunter -- whose postgame media session was cut short after just one question -- will receive a suspension for making contact with Ripperger or first base umpire Jeff Kellogg. Molitor said a suspension is "always a possibility," but will wait and see what the league has to say about Hunter's outburst.

"I don't want to try to predict or speculate how the league offices are going to respond to his actions," Molitor said. "I'm sure it will be reviewed and considered as to whether a suspension's appropriate or not."

Though it appeared on the surface that Hunter was upset with the strike zone, his outburst was a microcosm of how he and the rest of the Twins are feeling after getting swept at home by the Royals. Minnesota finished its six-game homestand with a 1-5 record and fell from first place in the process.

The three-game series between the Twins and Royals was being billed by some as the Twins' biggest series since 2010. It had been a while since Minnesota was relevant in the American League Central, and the Twins entered this series in first place in the division with second-place Kansas City just one game back. Though it's only early June, a bit of buzz has started to surround Minnesota after its 20-win month of May.

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Three games later, the Twins are two games back of the Royals after scoring just three runs in three games. It's the first time Minnesota has lost more than two games in a row since the first week of the season.

Given how flat the Twins were in this series, it's not a surprise to see frustration showing, especially from Hunter.

"I think the frustration has been there over the past week as results have changed for us, at least here in the short-term," Molitor said. "Things get magnified. An umpire never has a perfect night. It just seemed like in Torii's case, there were a couple pitches throughout the night that he had taken a little exception to. . . . I think he just let him know what he thought about it. I went out there to try to protect him a little bit. I became a sideshow to the big show."

Fans started chanting "Torii! Torii!" as Hunter began to disrobe. Meanwhile, his skipper was also on his way to the clubhouse early for the first time as manager.

So what got Molitor tossed?

"I just told (Ripperger) he had a bad night. . . . He told me he had a really good night," Molitor said. "I thought they were cheering because I was arguing for a change. When I turned around, I saw the jersey coming off and then I realized that Torii hadn't quite reached the end of his whatever you want to call it."

Torii Hunter tossed for arguing third strike, unloads batting gear on field ESPN.com | June 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Torii Hunter was thrown out of Wednesday night's game for arguing a called third strike late in the Twins' loss to the Royals, and became animated and needed to be briefly restrained in the aftermath.

Hunter yanked off his elbow pad, shin guard and batting gloves and threw them toward the batter's box after the ejection by plate umpire Mark Ripperger.

"We have bad days, all of us, as hitters, pitchers," Hunter said. "Even umpires have bad days, and he had one."

For good measure, Hunter ripped off his jersey and tossed that over the first-base line before retreating to the dugout in the eighth inning of the 7-2 defeat.

"I thought it was a ball," Hunter said of the 2-2 pitch. "The pitch before that, I thought it was a little up. He called it a strike, that's fine. I thought the last pitch he called a strike was revenge because I said something about the pitch before that, because it was definitely a ball."

Hunter appeared to make contact with one of the umpires during the rant, so could face a suspension from the league.

"That's always a possibility," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I don't want to try and predict or speculate how the league offices are going to respond to his actions. I'm sure it would be reviewed and considered as to whether a suspension is appropriate or not."

The loss capped the first series sweep this season of the Twins at home.

Molitor was given his first career managerial ejection during the conflict, too.

"I became a sideshow to the big show, from what I hear," Molitor said. "But those things, they happen in a game. They happen with different umpires, good umpires, and we'll just move on."

Hunter, hitting .268 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in his 17th big league season, went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts from the cleanup spot for the Twins.

"You know what he's trying to do," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "He's trying to fire everybody up and get 'em going."

The series provided a poignant reminder that the Twins haven't really caught up to the reigning American League champion Royals even if they spent the past week in first place from the thrust of their 20-7 mark in May.

The Twins had the best home record in the league until the Royals arrived this week and dropped them to 20-12.

"They've been in a little slow-bat period themselves, and he's trying to get everybody fired up and get 'em going," Yost said. "It's a bit entertaining."

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Twins' Torii Hunter throws batting gloves, jersey after ejection Sports Illustrated | June 11, 2015

Home plate umpire Mark Ripperger ejected Twins outfielder Torii Hunter for arguing balls and strikes in Minnesota's 7–2 loss to the Royals on Wednesday night.

Hunter, who was thrown out for the ninth time in his career, was called out on strikes on a 2–2 pitch from Luke Hochevar in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hunter quickly approached Ripperger and vehemently stated his disapproval of the call before being tossed. Twins manager Paul Molitor, who went out to defend Hunter, was subsequently booted as well, for the first time in his managerial career.

On his way back to the dugout, Hunter decided to get his money's worth. He threw his arm and leg guards in the direction of Ripperger, before throwing his batting gloves and even his jersey—yes, his jersey.

Torii Hunter tears off jersey in epic meltdown following ejection Mark Townsend | Yahoo! Sports | June 11, 2015 We have a new contender for on-field meltdown of the year.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter went a little haywire after being called out on strikes by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger during the eighth inning of Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Hunter first appeared displeased by Ripperger's strike two call, which in all honesty appeared to a pinpoint strike from Royals reliever Luke Hochevar. The strike three pitch was a fastball that appeared to be tail off the plate by several inches, to which Hunter immediately responded by confronting Ripperger behind the plate.

Though face-to-face, the conversation didn't seem particularly heated at first. It just carried on a little too long, which drew the ejection of Hunter and brought out manager Paul Molitor, who was ejected much more quickly.

That's when Hunter really started getting fired up and had to be restrained by Molitor and crew chief Brian O'Nora. At one point, Hunter put his left forearm into O'Nora's chest but didn't really extend, so it'll be interesting to see how that's viewed by the league.

What followed was the meat of the meltdown, which saw Hunter rip off his elbow pad and shin guard and send them flying toward home plate. Then came the batting gloves. And finally the jersey, which drew the loudest roar of the event. Despite wearing a perfectly good undershirt that could have been ripped off and thrown in the pile, Hunter elected to call it a night, disappearing into the clubhouse to end this meltdown at its peak. If we were judging on points, that would have scored big because we too often see these meltdowns overstay their welcome.

Knowing when to exit is a fine detail Hunter mastered here. He said his piece verbally, made a straight forward follow up statement and then vanished into the night. Overall, the incident didn't last more than 90 seconds.

As we noted though, there was some minor physical contact with O'Nora, but it wouldn't seem Hunter would be hit with more than a fine. That is unless the league wants to crack down on any contact with the umpires, in which case Hunter may face a one-game suspension like that given to Joey Votto earlier this season.

Twins draft Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay with No. 6 pick Aaron Gleeman | Minnesota Post | June 11, 2015

In selecting University of Illinois reliever Tyler Jay with the No. 6 pick the Twins made it clear they think he can develop into a starter and according to Baseball America that's an opinion shared by some, but not all, teams. Jay saved 14 games with a 0.60 ERA and 70/7 K/BB ratio in 60 innings for Illinois during the regular season and actually started a College World Series game against Vanderbilt hours before the draft, allowing a homer to No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson.

Jay is a left-hander with good control who throws in the mid-90s as a reliever, but the question is whether his secondary pitches and durability will hold up as a starter and how much of his electric raw stuff will be lost when trying to throw six or seven innings instead of one or two innings. Very few teams invest top-10 picks in college relievers and when they have done so the results are a mixed bag at best, suggesting the "sure thing" aspect is somewhat misleading.

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Here's a list of every college reliever drafted with a top-10 pick in the past 20 years:

RELIEVER PICK YEAR

TYLER JAY #6 2015

Drew Storen #10 2009

Daniel Moskos #4 2007

Casey Weathers #8 2007

Matt Anderson #1 1997

Braden Looper #3 1997

Prior to Jay there had been just five college relievers drafted with top-10 picks since 1995 and of those five only Drew Storen, the 10th pick in 2009, panned out as hoped. Braden Looper, the third pick in 1997, had a solid career as a setup man and sometimes closer, but finished with a 4.15 ERA. And the other three were busts. That has little to do with Jay, specifically, but it does show that using a top-10 pick on a college reliever has been anything but a sure thing.

In recent years the Twins have used several high-round picks on college relievers with plans to turn them into pro starters and it hasn't worked out well at all, with a combination of injuries and poor performances derailing most of them long before the majors were in sight. Mediocre, injured, and/or failed starters become great relievers far more often than great relievers become even mediocre starters, which is why teams almost always go for more upside with top-10 picks.

Baseball America ranked Jay as the 13th-best prospect in the draft, noting that he "was trending toward the top half of the first round and could be the first player from the draft class to reach the majors if he stays in a relief role." However, their pre-draft scouting report also noted that "scouts were mixed on whether or not Jay could start" and despite a mid-90s fastball and "wipeout" slider. Terry Ryan indicated that Jay will continue to be used as a reliever for the rest of 2015.

MLB.com ranked Jay as the ninth-best prospect in the draft, noting that he's "not very physical at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds" but "generates that heat with athleticism and a quick arm rather than an excessive amount of effort in his delivery." Their pre-draft scouting report also noted that Jay "has a deeper repertoire than most relievers" and "has enough pitches and control to lead a pro team to consider trying him as a starter."

Jay is the Twins' fourth consecutive top-10 pick, following high school outfielder Byron Buxton at No. 2 in 2012, high school pitcher Kohl Stewart at No. 4 in 2013, and high school shortstop Nick Gordon at No. 5 in 2014. And he'll be the Twins' only draft pick in the top 70 this year, because they forfeited their second-round pick for the right to sign the since-suspended Ervin Santana to a four-year, $55 million contract this offseason.

Kolton Kendrick likely to sign with Minnesota Twins after 8th-round selection in 2015 MLB Draft The Times-Picayune | June 10, 2015

Oak Forest Academy's Kolton Kendrick said Wednesday he was likely to sign with the Minnesota Twins after the team picked him Tuesday in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. The No. 230 overall spot where Kendrick was selected holds a signing bonus value of $175,400.

Kendrick said he was still in negotiations with the team. The Twins will host all players picked in the first 10 rounds for a workout Friday at Target Field in Minneapolis, Kendrick said. Players will sign contracts then and likely be sent to the Twins' spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, for Rookie Gulf Coast League play.

"It's exciting," he said. "I'm blessed."

Kendrick said before the draft some scouts said he could be picked in the first three rounds. He said the area scout for one team texted him more than once Tuesday to say the team might pick him with its next pick, only to send a text minutes later to say the team had gone another direction.

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But once the Twins' turn neared in the eighth round, Kendrick said he received a call from the team's area scout to say Kendrick was next on their board. Soon after, Kendrick's name appeared online as the Twins' selection.

"It was all very exciting," Kendrick said. "It's still exciting to be picked on the second day. At first it was a little frustrating. When you see your name up on the screen, it's a real stress reliever."

After his selection, one analyst on MLB.com said Kendrick had potential 30-home run power. Kendrick's coach at Oak Forest Academy said scouts compared his power to the power Mark McGwire and Josh Hamilton showed in high school.

Kendrick played his junior season at Loranger High School, before a transfer to Oak Forest.

By choosing to play professional baseball, Kendrick would bypass playing in college at Southeastern, where he signed in November.