Ex-Twin Puckett suffers a stroke

Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett had a stroke at his Arizona home yesterday and was taken to a hospital for surgery, the Minnesota Twins announced.

The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, was taken to a Scottsdale hospital.

''The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball ask fans to keep Kirby and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the team said in a statement.

Ron Shapiro, who was Puckett's agent, said he had been in contact with Puckett's family but would not confirm his whereabouts.

''We're all praying for his recovery," Shapiro said.

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter sat out Minnesota's exhibition game against the Red Sox after learning of Puckett's stroke.

After the game, team officials said they didn't immediately have any further information on Puckett's condition.

''The doctors said that if he has good luck, he'll be all right. You have to keep the faith," former manager Tom Kelly said.

Said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire: ''Our hearts and our prayers are all with Puck. We know it's a tough situation out there."

Puckett, who broke in with Minnesota in 1984, had a career batting average of .318. Glaucoma forced the Gold Glove center fielder and 10-time All-Star to retire in 1996 after 12 seasons with the Twins when he went blind in one eye.

Three years ago, he was cleared of assault charges after being accused of groping a woman at a Twin Cities restaurant.

Puckett has maintained relationships with many people in the Twins organization. The team tried unsuccessfully to get him to come to spring training as a special instructor this year, something he hasn't done since 2002.

Another former Twins great, Tony Oliva, a special instructor during spring, said he has been worried about Puckett's weight.

''The last few times I saw him, he kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Oliva said. ''And we worried about him. I saw him about five months ago."

Roger Clemens struck out three in two scoreless innings and Chase Utley went 5 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs in Team USA's debut -- a 12-7 exhibition victory over a San Francisco Giants split squad at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Utley's two-run shot off Jack Taschner broke a 7-7 tie in the eighth inning of a game that went 10 to allow extra work for Team USA players, some of whom had not had an at-bat this spring.

Chipper Jones also hit a two-run homer for the US squad, which opens its World Baseball Classic play tomorrow against Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Clemens, who has yet to say whether he will pitch another season in the majors, got the start. The 43-year-old righthander allowed just one hit, Steve Finley's two-out double in the first. Clemens threw 29 pitches. He struck out the last two batters he faced and three of his last four.

Clemens will start Friday against South Africa.

Elsewhere in the WBC, South Korea upset Japan, 3-2, in Tokyo to win Group A, with Lee Seung Yeop hitting a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning of a game that mattered little because both nations were assured of advancement.

Earlier in Tokyo, Chen Yung Chi hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to lead Taiwan to a 12-3 win over China.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Jerry Hairston was taken to a hospital after being hit in the head by a pitch in an exhibition against the San Francisco Giants in Mesa, Ariz. After Cubs starter Rich Hill hit two batters in a scoreless top of the first, Hairston took a pitch to the helmet from Kevin Correia. He was taken for a precautionary CAT scan . . . The New York Yankees are removing the sign at Legends Field in Tampa apologizing for the absence of stars who are at the WBC. Howard Rubenstein, spokesman for George Steinbrenner, said the Yankees owner did not know about the sign until after news reports. ''He had nothing to do with it," Rubenstein said . . . Major League Baseball took a major step toward resolving an impasse over a home for the Washington Nationals, signing a lease for a new ballpark. One day before the deadline imposed by the District of Columbia Council, baseball signed the lease approved by the Council last month. The lease calls for a ballpark to be built along the Anacostia River, south of the Capitol, with a provision capping the city's spending for the project at $611 million. MLB has withheld choosing a buyer for the team while the stadium lease was in the works.