Twins shred Sox after foot spat

Cincinnati Reds outfielders Norris Hopper, No. 30, and Ryan Freel, No. 6, collide after Freel caught a fly ball from the Pittsburgh Pirates' Humberto Cota in the third inning during their baseball game in Cincinnati on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Minnesota rallied when manager Ron Gardenhire hollered at all four umpires after A.J. Pierzynski appeared to step on first baseman Justin Morneau's foot, turning a one-run deficit into a 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Nick Punto, Torii Hunter and Jason Tyner each had three hits and Mike Redmond drove in three runs for the Twins.

The game's intensity level rose after Pierzynski, a former Twin, possibly spiked Morneau while running out a double play to end the White Sox half of the sixth inning.

Gardenhire stormed out of the dugout before the White Sox took the field and yelled at the umpires for about a minute.

The Twins then scored five times in their half of the sixth to take an 8-4 lead.

Red Sox 5, Indians 3

At Boston, Curt Schilling struck out 10 and Kevin Youkilis hit a stand-up inside-the-park homer for the Red Sox.

Youkilis, who also doubled in the fourth, has hit in 20 consecutive games, raising his average from .280 to .354 — fourth in the AL.

Manny Ramirez also homered, moving into a tie for 25th on the career list with No. 478. Dustin Pedroia was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk.

Schilling (5-2) allowed a run and six hits in seven innings.

Mariners 12, Angels 5

At Anaheim, California, Adrian Beltre tied a franchise record with four extra-base hits, including two homers, and Richie Sexson added a three-run drive.

Seattle has won four straight to match its longest winning streak of the season and trails the AL West-leading Angels by three-and-a-half games. The Mariners (25-22) moved three games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2003 season.

Miguel Batista (5-4) won despite allowing four runs, nine hits and four walks in 5 1-3 innings. Bartolo Colon (5-2) gave up nine runs — seven earned — and 11 hits in six-and-a-third innings.

Blue Jays 7, Yankees 2

At Toronto, the Yankees started a season-high 10-game trip with one of their flattest performances.

Dustin McGowan won for the first time in more than a year and Lyle Overbay homered for Toronto.

The Yankees have lost four straight and eight of 11. New York had just five hits — including two infield singles — and was shut out until Hideki Matsui's two-run homer in the eighth.

New York is a season-high seven games under .500, tied with Tampa Bay for last in the division.

Matt DeSalvo (1-2) gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in four-and-two-third innings. Roger Clemens pitched six shutout innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday and his next start is likely to be with the Yankees.

Devil Rays 6, Tigers 5

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Elijah Dukes drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning and Tampa Bay rallied to beat Detroit.

Dukes, who was held out of two games last week following a published report that he made death threats against his estranged wife and kids, hit a high bouncer to left field off Todd Jones (1-2).

Detroit, which led 5-2 when starter Chad Durbin departed, has lost four straight.

Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield hit his 465th homer, tying Hall of Famer Dave Winfield for 29th on the career list.

Athletics 5, Rangers 3

At Oakland, California, Eric Chavez hit a three-run homer and rookie Travis Buck added a solo shot.

The game marked the return to Oakland of Ron Washington, who spent the last 11 years as an A's coach before the Rangers hired him as manager.

Chad Gaudin (5-1) won his fourth consecutive decision, allowing one run — unearned — and four hits in six-and-two-third innings. Alan Embree pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Orioles 9, Royals 1

At Kansas City, Missouri, Ramon Hernandez hit his fifth career grand slam, Steve Trachsel pitched a five-hitter and Baltimore extended Kansas City's losing streak to five.

Hernandez's slam off Scott Elarton (1-1) put the Orioles on top 6-0 in the fourth. Kansas City has been outscored 45-11 during its skid.

Trachsel (4-3) walked three, struck out none and threw 104 pitches in his first nine-inning complete game since 2003.

AP, CINCINNATI

Reds center fielder Ryan Freel was taken off the field on a stretcher after colliding with a teammate and tests came back normal on Monday during Cincinnati's 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kyle Lohse (2-6) struck out two in a six-hitter, snapping the team's six-game skid and his personal six-game losing streak.

Freel left the game in the third inning after running into right fielder Norris Hopper while catching a fly ball on the warning track. Freel was spun around and landed near the base of the wall.

The game was delayed 13 minutes while he was examined before he was strapped onto a stretcher and taken to a local hospital. He was diagnosed with bruises to the head and neck, and was to be re-evaluated yesterday.

Braves 2, Brewers 1

In Milwaukee, Andruw Jones hit the 350th home run of his Major League Baseball career and Chuck James tied a career high with eight strikeouts for Atlanta.

Brewers starter Chris Capuano (5-4) started strong and held the Braves hitless through two outs in the fourth, when the 30-year-old Jones drove a 1-2 pitch just over the wall in right field for his eighth home run of the season.

James (5-4) held Milwaukee scoreless until Prince Fielder smacked his National League-leading 16th home run of the season to lead off the sixth inning.

Rockies 6, Cardinals 2

In Denver, Jeff Francis allowed three hits through seven innings, Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer and Colorado won its sixth straight game.

Francis (4-4) had a shutout going into the eighth when Aaron Miles doubled with two outs and So Taguchi hit a two-run homer to left, his first of the season.

Colorado has won six in a row for the first time since May 21-26, 2002. The Cardinals continue their road woes, having dropped 11 of their last 13 away from Busch Stadium.

Marlins 5, Cubs 3

In Chicago, Kim Byung-hyun pitched six scoreless innings, Reggie Abercrombie homered and Florida held off a late Chicago rally.

Josh Willingham had two hits and an RBI and Miguel Cabrera had three hits for the Marlins, who bounced back after getting swept by the New York Mets over the weekend.

Kim (3-2) allowed three hits and struck out five while working around three walks. Kim, who was traded to the Marlins on May 14 from Colorado, is 2-0 in three starts for Florida.

Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 4

At Philadelphia, Doug Davis pitched eight sharp innings, Conor Jackson drove in four runs and Arizona picked up its fifth straight win.

Ryan Howard's homer in the seventh was the only run off Davis for the Phillies, who wasted Freddy Garcia's longest outing of the season.

Davis (3-6) allowed seven hits, struck out five and didn't issue a walk.