Sweeney’s Double Gives Royals Win

Mike Sweeney’s two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning skidded past third baseman Eric Hinske and sent the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday at Kansas City, Mo.

Terry Adams (3-2) gave up a single to Desi Relaford to open the ninth but then retired Aaron Guiel and Angel Berroa on ground balls.

Carlos Beltran followed with a walk before Sweeney delivered. Hinske let the ball play him, and it got past his backhand try and down the left-field line.

“The ball stayed down, and I just couldn’t get to it,” Hinske said.

Beltran raced home from first, easily beating the relay.

Adams flipped his glove in the air in frustration as he walked off the mound.

“I made the pitch I needed to make, and he put the ball on the ground,” Adams said. “It’s out of my hands after that.”

It was the fourth time this season that the Royals won the game in their last at-bat.

Minnesota 4, Seattle 3 -- Brad Radke took a shutout into the ninth inning at Minneapolis and the Twins held on after Edgar Martinez’s 300th home run.

Doug Mientkiewicz hit a two-run homer to back Radke (3-2), who allowed back-to-back singles starting the ninth before Martinez’s shot that barely cleared the big wall in right. Joe Nathan got three out for his ninth save in 10 tries.

After the game, the Twins put third baseman Corey Koskie on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained chest muscle. Michael Cuddyer will be the starting third baseman during Koskie’s absence.

Cleveland 6, Boston 4 -- Cliff Lee (4-0) pitched six strong innings and Jody Gerut had three hits for the Indians at Boston.

Tim Laker homered for Cleveland, which took advantage of three Boston errors to win for only the second time in eight games.

Texas 9, Tampa Bay 8 -- At St. Petersburg, Fla., Hank Blalock hit his third homer in two games and the Rangers sent the Devil Rays to their seventh consecutive loss.

Oakland 2, Detroit 1 -- Rich Harden gave up one run in seven solid innings and Adam Melhuse homered for the A’s at Detroit.

Baltimore at Chicago -- The game was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.