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Posted at 6:38 a.m., Thursday, August 2, 2007

Baseball: Twins-Indians weekend series on for now

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Although the Minnesota Twins went ahead with their game about an hour after a bridge collapsed yesterday near the Metrodome, their thoughts were elsewhere.

"I called my wife and called home to make sure they were OK and then it kind of hit home," Twins reliever and Minnesota native Pat Neshek said. "We've all been on that road. It hurts seeing that. I have a lot of friends here _ everyone does. Baseball was the last thing on my mind."

After a moment of silence to honor victims of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge, the Kansas City Royals defeated Minnesota 5-3 in 10 innings.

Twins officials decided to play last night's game after conferring with department of public safety officials. It was decided that sending 20,000-25,000 people back into traffic could hinder rescue efforts. However, the series finale today was postponed.

The Cleveland Indians planned to travel to Minneapolis following today's game against Texas after being informed by the Twins that their four-game series at the Metrodome would go on as planned for now.

"It is a difficult situation, but it was the right thing to do to play," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "Not playing (Thursday) is also a matter of traffic control. We are respectful of the situation and for the lives lost."

The Twins also postponed Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for the team's new stadium, which will be located downtown.

"I just tried to focus on the game and turn the switch on," Twins starter Boof Bonser said. "I had to almost take the minds off of thinking about that."

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire drove over the bridge to the Metrodome every day, including hours before the collapse.

"Obviously, a baseball game is kind of secondary around here," he said. "All of our thoughts and prayers are with the folks over there around the bridge and the people working to try and save everybody's lives. There was a ball game that had to be played. I don't think a lot of us wanted to be out there but it was the right thing to do."

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as the Royals won hours after manager Buddy Bell announced he will resign after the season.

"Things always get put into perspective," Bell said. "This game is important to all of us, but there is nothing as precious as life. We all know that."

Kansas City tied the game in the eighth inning when Matt Guerrier's wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Emil Brown to score.

Brown singled up the middle with one out in the 10th off reliever Juan Rincon (3-2), who struck out Mark Teahen before Gordon homered off the second deck.

"I just put my head down and started running," Gordon said. "Being a rookie, I just want to make sure, if it was off the wall I was getting two or three."

Zack Greinke (5-5) worked two scoreless innings for the win, and Joakim Soria, taking over the closer's role after the departure of Octavio Dotel pitched the bottom of the 10th for his 11th save.

Bell said he was stepping aside to spend more time with his family. He will remain with the team as special assistant to general manager Dayton Moore.

"Buddy's announcement kind of takes a back seat to what is going on in the city," Teahen said. "But there was a lot of emotion on this day."

The Twins had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Bonser rebounded from his last start against Cleveland, when he lasted only 2 2-3 innings. The big right-hander fanned four over seven innings and scattered eight hits.

Brian Bannister posted another solid outing for the Royals. The 25-year-old lasted seven innings for the 13th time in 17 starts, giving up three runs and striking out two.

David DeJesus had three hits for Kansas City, which dropped the first two games of the series.

The Twins opened the scoring in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Jason Bartlett.

The Royals scored twice in the fourth on an RBI groundout from John Buck and a single from DeJesus.

Minnesota tied it in their half of the fourth on Kubel's RBI single, and went ahead on his run-scoring single in the seventh.