MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Corey Koskie was hit in the chest with a throw home in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday and when the ball bounced away, teammate Torii Hunter was able to score the winning run as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals, 5-4.
It was Minnesota's fifth straight victory as the Twins storm toward a likely division championship.
Koskie was stopped in his tracks and dropped to the artificial turf. He remained there for several minutes before being taken off the field on a cart.
Hunter led off the 10th with an infield hit off Scott Mullen (3-3) and David Ortiz singled to extend his hitting streak to 17 games before Dustan Mohr walked to load the bases.
The Royals brought on Jason Grimsley and stationed right fielder Michael Tucker in front of second base as a fifth infielder. Grimsley struck out Doug Mientkiewicz to bring up Koskie, who hit a one-hopper along the first base line.
First baseman Chan Perry dove for the ball, caught it and landed on first base. He scrambled to his feet to try to throw out Hunter at the plate, but his peg drilled Koskie in the chest.
