Royals Top Twins in Extras

(Wednesday, August 1st) Final Score: Kansas City 5, Minnesota 3 (10 innings) Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Alex Gordons two-run homer in the 10th inning gave the Kansas City Royals a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on a somber night at the Metrodome. The Twins postponed Thursday afternoons game against the Royals due to a tragic bridge collapse along Interstate Highway 35W over the Mississippi River. The bridge collapsed during the evening rush hour, shortly after 6 p.m. local time, dumping an estimated 50 vehicles into the water and onto the land below, according to several reports. Several deaths were attributed to the collapse. "Well I think our coaches and a lot of guys go over that bridge," said Minnesota catcher Mike Redmond. "I go over it all the time. Being just a 1/2 mile from the stadium, everybody has relatives and friends coming to the game so I imagine there is a lot of concern." The Twins decided to go ahead with Wednesday nights game instead of sending a crowd of nearly 25,000 home on nearby highways that were filled with traffic. Gordons two-out shot to right off Juan Rincon (3-2) followed a one-out single by Emil Brown. Kansas City starter Brian Bannister went seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Zack Greinke (5-5) worked two scoreless innings of relief for the win and Joakim Soria threw a hitless bottom of the 10th for his 11th save for the Royals, whose manager Buddy Bell announced earlier in the day he would resign after the season. "We are all kind of down about what happened here in Minnesota and with Buddy leaving," said Gordon. "We understand its the right circumstance for him to leave. He has some other obligations." The announcement comes at a surprising time, considering the Royals markedly improved play of late. The club had winning records in both June and July, the first time the Royals have had consecutive winning months since 2003. The 55-year-old Bell is in his second full season as manager. He took over on May 31, 2005 after Tony Pena resigned. Health concerns may have played a major role in Bells decision, however. The former manager of the Tigers and Rockies was diagnosed as having a cancerous growth behind his left tonsil, and missed the final 10 games of last season to have surgery. "I want to spend more time with my family," said Bell. "Its been close to 40 years now and Im going to take a couple hours off." David DeJesus had three hits and drove in a run for the Royals, who have won five of seven. Jason Kubel had two hits and two RBI for the Twins, who had a four-game winning streak snapped Minnesota starter Boof Bonser yielded two runs on eight hits over seven innings. The Royals tied it at 3-3 in the eighth. Billy Butler led off with a single. Brown ran for Butler and got around on a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error and reliever Matt Guerriers wild pitch. The Twins got on the board in the third on Jason Bartletts two-out infield single, scoring Brian Buscher who led off with a single to center. The Royals, though, took the lead with two runs in the fourth. Mark Teahen led off with a bunt single toward third, and with one-out Jason Smith singled before John Buck grounded into a fielders choice, scoring Teahen. Joey Gathright followed with an infield single before DeJesus drove in Buck with a single to center. Kubels single to center in the fourth plated Joe Mauer, who doubled to left, leading off the frame. Kubel then put the Twins ahead in the seventh with a single to right, scoring Torii Hunter, who led off with a double to right. Game Notes Kansas City placed outfielder Reggie Sanders and pitcher Jorge De LaRosa on the 15-day disabled list; recalled pitcher Ryan Braun and outfielder Gathright...RHP Kyle Davies, acquired in a Tuesday trade with Atlanta, will make his Royals debut Friday against the Yankees...Attendance was 24,880.