Canadian pitcher Scott Diamond ejected in Twins' loss

The Minnesota Twins left 14 runners on base and their starting pitcher was ejected in the third inning.

In the end, it was a couple of sloppy plays in the field that cost them.

Josh Hamilton had five runs batted in and Mitch Moreland doubled in the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning that carried the Texas Rangers to a 10-6 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.

A pair of Twins errors led to five unearned runs in the eighth as the American League West leaders sent 11 batters to the plate to break a 4-all tie. Geovany Soto, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus also had RBIs in the inning.

"We battled pretty hard, but our defence let us down at the end," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We had plenty of opportunities."

Canadian pitcher Scott Diamond of the Twins was ejected by plate umpire Wally Bell after throwing a pitch behind Hamilton's head. Gardenhire also was tossed after immediately protesting Bell's decision.

"Anytime in an umpire's judgment they go in the head area, we have to take care of business. I felt at the time that he had to be ejected for it," Bell said.

Rangers starter Roy Oswalt had hit slugger Joe Mauer in the back in the preceding half-inning.

"I'm not going to get into that," Gardenhire said. "Everybody saw that, so I don't have to say anything about it.

"I've never seen it happen like that before."

Diamond, who hails from Guelph, Ont., insisted he was just trying to pitch inside.

"That pitch definitely got away," he said. "My control was not that good tonight."

Diamond worked 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks.