Koskie’s Two Homers Lead Twins to 16-2 Win

Everybody wanted to give Corey Koskie credit for igniting the Minnesota Twins.

Everybody but Corey Koskie.

“Guys can holler all they want,” the third baseman said after hitting two home runs and driving in a career-high six runs as the Twins routed the Royals, 16-2, Thursday at Kansas City, Mo.

“But they’ve got to put it on themselves. Everybody took it upon themselves. I had nothing to do with it.”

The Twins, who had lost the first three games of the series and seen their lead in the AL Central shrink to one game over the Royals, rapped out 23 hits.

After the Royals’ 8-6 victory Wednesday night, several Twins took themselves to task, with Koskie being the most vocal.

“He was just telling everybody to bring the energy. You don’t see Koskie like that very often. You see Koskie upset, you know something’s serious,” center fielder Torii Hunter said.

The Twins avoided a four-game sweep with their highest hit total since getting 25 against Cleveland on June 4, 2002.

Albie Lopez started the fifth for the Royals and gave up seven runs while getting only two out. The right-hander was released immediately after the game.

Oakland 9, Texas 2 -- Miguel Tejada homered and set a career-high with five hits and Eric Byrnes hit a three-run homer as the Athletics completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers at Oakland.

Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez left with a bloody nose in the seventh inning after being hit by a throw when Mark Ellis stole second. He is expected to return to the lineup today.

Toronto 6, Baltimore 1 -- Vernon Wells homered twice and drove in three runs at Baltimore. Josh Phelps also homered for the Blue Jays, who outscored the Orioles, 12-3, in sweeping the rain-shortened two-game series.

Boston 4, Chicago 3 -- Johnny Damon’s RBI single in the 10th gave the Red Sox the victory at Chicago.

Cleveland 10, Detroit 3 -- Jody Gerut drove in three runs and Milton Bradley and Casey Blake homered as the Indians swept a three-game series at Detroit.

Tampa Bay at New York -- The game was postponed because of rain and rescheduled for Sept. 13.