Gardenhire back with Twins after brother's death

5/8/2008 3:29 PM

CHICAGO (AP) -Twins manager Ron Gardenhire rejoined the team on Thursday after missing the last five games to be with his family in Oklahoma following the death of his brother.

Gardenhire said he was still trying to cope with the loss of 54-year-old Mike Gardenhire.

``I'm still kind of numb,'' he said before Minnesota's game against the Chicago White Sox. ``It's just all kind of surreal right now. I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do to get back into this thing.''

The manager was ejected in the sixth inning by plate umpire Doug Eddings after a rare double steal by the White Sox. It was Gardenhire's 37th career ejection and first this season.

With Carlos Quentin at first and Jim Thome at second, Chicago's Paul Konerko had a check swing on a 3-1 pitch. Konerko started to take off his shin guard and head to first with a walk, but on appeal the pitch from Matt Guerrier was ruled a strike.

Quentin and Thome had already moved up a base when there was no immediate call from Eddings on the pitch. After first base umpire Ted Barrett ruled a strike on Konerko, Quentin and Thome were credited with a double steal.

Gardenhire came of the dugout and moments later was ejected by Eddings. It was Thome's first stolen base since Sept. 25, 2002.

Gardenhire was grateful that he was able to see his oldest brother when the Twins visited the Texas Rangers for a three-game series from April 25-27. Gardenhire said the death put sports in perspective.

``Baseball becomes very small,'' he said. ``But it is a place that you can go back to to kind of help you.''

Midway through Gardenhire's pregame talk with reporters, infielder Nick Punto popped his head into the manager's office and welcomed his skipper back.

``You guys were my saving grace,'' Gardenhire responded. ``You made my days go easier.''

Punto was happy to see Gardenhire.

``It was hard not to think about him on a daily basis. It was weird not having him since we've had him around every day for five years,'' Punto said. ``He had a tough week, but it's good to have him back. We'll try to get his mind off things and play some good baseball.''

The Twins, managed by third base coach Scott Ullger, went 4-1 during Gardenhire's absence.