Twins 4 - 2 Astros
Final
  for this game

Mauer returns, knocks in winning run vs. Astros

Aug 12, 2014 - 6:19 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Mauer hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth inning in his first game back from the disabled list as the Minnesota Twins beat the Houston Astros, 4-2, in the opener of a three-game set.

After Eduardo Escobar struck out to start the ninth, Jordan Schafer and Brian Dozier worked walks against Josh Fields (2-5) around a pop out.

Mauer then shot a base hit through the hole on the left side to plate Schafer. Dozier scored from first after Danny Santana hesitated getting the ball into the infield.

"You just got to get the ball in ... you have to get the ball into the infield," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Mauer, who had missed the last five weeks with a strained right oblique, also smacked a double for the Twins, who have won two straight on the heels of a four-game losing streak.

"We got enough hits in some big moments, and a big one from Joe," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "So, welcome back."

Lefty Tommy Milone, acquired from Oakland last month for Sam Fuld, made his first start for Minnesota. He allowed two runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings.

Brian Duensing (3-2) recorded the final two outs of the eighth to notch the win, while Glen Perkins fired a scoreless ninth to post his 29th save of the season.

Jose Altuve and Chris Carter cracked solo homers for Houston, which has dropped five of its last seven games.

Both teams scored a run apiece in the first to open the scoring.

Trevor Plouffe hit an RBI groundout with the bases loaded in the first before Altuve's blast in the home half tied the score.

Minnesota plated a run in the fourth, but the Astros got it back in the fifth.

Escobar hit a one-out double in the fourth, advanced to third on Santana's single and scored on a pickoff throwing error.

Carter's one-out solo shot off the facade in the fifth knotted the contest at 2-2.

Robbie Grossman threw out Plouffe at the plate in the eighth following Chris Parmelee's two-out base hit into right.

Game Notes

Earlier Monday, the Twins traded outfielder Josh Willingham to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Jason Adam ... Minnesota was 4- for-15 with runners in scoring position, while Houston finished 0-for-6 ... Brad Peacock surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and a walk over five frames in his start for the Astros.






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