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Punto, Redmond lead Twins past Royals

Apr 21, 2007 - 11:28 PM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins look as if they would rather be the hunted than the hunter in their quest for a second consecutive American League Central Division title.

Nick Punto sparked a deciding two-run seventh inning and Mike Redmond drove in three runs as the Twins picked up a 7-5 victory against the Kansas City Royals.

With the win, the Twins improved to 11-6 and are in first place in the AL Central. At the end of April in 2006, the Twins were 9-15 and eight games out of first place. After falling as many as 12 1/2 games back, Minnesota eventually came back to win the division on the final day of the season.

"We grind it out" Redmond said. "Our offense was a little slow to get started, but we finish well. We have a good team. Every guy pulls for one another. We have great chemistry. We know if we go out and play the way we're capable of playing, we have a good chance."

Pat Neshek (2-0), Dennys Reyes and Jesse Crain combined to pitch three hitless innings in relief. Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth to earn his sixth save in as many opportunities.

"Our bullpen picked us up big time, came in and shut it down, did a super job," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Our offense is swinging the bats really well."

After a seesaw game through six innings, the Twins broke a 5-5 tie and took the lead for good in the seventh.

"It is hard to describe games like that," Gardenhire said. "We just persevered. We lasted longer than they did."

Alexi Casilla opened the inning with a single off Joel Peralta (0-2), stole second base and scored on Punto's triple to right field. Jimmy Gobble replaced Peralta and allowed a sacrifice fly to Joe Mauer for the second run of the seventh.

"We played with that same lineup for four months so we all know each other, we all played together," Punto said. "If there's one constant, it's our lineup."

Torii Hunter had an RBI and scored two runs and Mauer drove in a pair of runs. The Twins were 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts this season, until Hunter was thrown out attempting to swipe second base in the eighth inning.

Neither starting pitcher was around to receive a decision.

Boof Bonser allowed five runs - three earned - and seven hits in five innings. The 260-pound righthander also walked one and struck out seven.

"I felt good out there," Bonser said. "I didn't walk anybody, that was the biggest thing. I threw the ball over the plate and let them hit it out there. I gave up two home runs again, but both were solo shots, that was the big thing."

Zack Greinke allowed four runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out two in five innings.

"I didn't have the location on the fastball and no off-speed pitches were working, so it was a struggle," Greinke said. "It was a bad game, period."

"I think Zack was trying to find anything that would work," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "His command wasn't as good as it usually is. He just couldn't find it today. It looked like he was trying to figure it out."

Mark Teahen and Alex Gordon each hit a solo home run for the Royals, who tied a season-high by striking out 13 times.

"Our two-strike approach wasn't all that good today," Bell said. "We've been striking out a lot all season. This is something we have to get better at. We need to try to get the ball on the ball more with two strikes."