~Partner~ » got the last two outs of the eighth inning f

HOUSTON -- Monday was a day of ups and downs for Joe Mauer. Luckily for Minnesotas star first baseman the long day ended on a positive note. Mauer had two hits in his return from the disabled list, including a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning, to help the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night. Mauer was elated to rejoin his team after a 34-game stint on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side. But his excitement was tempered when Josh Willingham, one of his best friends on the team, was traded to the Royals just before the game. "I was on a high coming in and seeing everybody and then to see one of our guys go out that was pretty tough," he said. "But then to win the ballgame was a good way to end it." A pair of walks by Josh Fields (2-5) left runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth when Mauer hit a groundball single to left field that scored Jordan Schafer. Brian Dozier also scored on the play when rookie left fielder Domingo Santana held the ball for several seconds before throwing it in. "I just panicked," Santana said. "I was just trying to throw the ball to the cutoff man, but I just panicked." Mauer, who doubled in the third inning, extended his hitting streak to 13 games in his first game since July 1. "This guy, Ive always said he can get right out of bed and hit," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. Brian Duensing (3-2) got the last two outs of the eighth inning for the win and Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his 29th save. Chris Carter and Jose Altuve both had solo homers for Houston and Jake Marisnick had a career-high four hits. Carter connected for his 26th homer to make it 2-2 in the fifth inning. Tommy Milone allowed eight hits and two runs in his debut with the Twins after being traded from Oakland for Sam Fuld on July 31. "Good to get the first one out of the way," Milone said. "Obviously going out there with a new team you want to pitch well and I felt like I did that." Houston starter Brad Peacock allowed seven hits and two runs in five innings. Eduardo Escobar was at third with two outs in the fourth when an error by Peacock on a pickoff attempt at first base allowed him to score and make it 2-1. First baseman Jon Singleton crashed into first base umpire Bill Welke and knocked him to the ground as he chased the ball. Welke was OK but got up slowly and kept trying to brush the dirt off his uniform for more than an inning. The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the first on Plouffes fielders choice. The Astros tied it up in the bottom of the inning on Altuves homer. TRAINERS ROOM Minnesota: RHP Ricky Nolasco (elbow) made his second rehabilitation start for Class A Cedar Rapids on Sunday and Gardenhire said that he should make his next start for the Twins. Houston: OF Alex Presley (strained right side) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with short-season Class A Tri-City on Tuesday. Presley expects to come off the DL sometime during Houstons upcoming road trip to Boston and New York. UP NEXT Houstons Collin McHugh opposes Yohan Pino when the series continues on Tuesday night. Pino is looking for his first win since July 10 and McHugh will try to snap a six-game skid. Nike React Sale Canada .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Wholesale Nike React . Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell and Montreals Troy Smith will be the starting quarterbacks in a CFL season-opener for the first time in their careers. Both want to reinforce their No. 1 status. You can watch the game live in the first half of a doubleheader on TSN and TSN GO at 3:00pm et/Noon pt. http://www.wholesalenikereactcanada.com/. - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Cheap Nike React Canada . In the second game of their day/night doubleheader at Minneapolis, three Blue Jays pitchers, Steve Delabar, Sergio Santos and J. Wholesale Nike React Canada . Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday.GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Clevelands Jason Giambi will be sidelined for about three-to-four weeks with a broken rib in his right side. Giambi was hit by a pitch thrown by Edwin Jackson of the Chicago Cubs in the third inning of a March 7 game. X-rays at the time were negative, but Cleveland said Thursday the 43-year-old Giambi had felt increased discomfort over previous five days. "As he continued to show tenderness, we got him an MRI yesterday," manager Terry Francona said. "We treat the symptoms. He will be down for a number of days without activity, just getting treatment. Then when the symptoms are better, we can start getting him into activities. Then we can get him into baseball activities." The 2000 AL MVP, Giambi is a non-roster invitee to big league training camp. The designated hitter hopes to play in his 20th major league season and second with the Indians. Giambi has been hit by 179 pitches during the regular season, 11th on the career list. "I kind of knew. It was a cutter in it hit me just under the pad," said Giambi, who picked the ball up and flipped the it to Jackson. "I didnt want him to think it hurt." Giambi probably will not make the opening-day roster, but the Indians are hoping he will rrebound and be in position to join the big league team later.dddddddddddd "It is why you try to evaluate everybody, because if you need a plan B or a plan C, you have it," Francona said. Giambi is optimistic he will be back soon. "Its not tragic. At least its not displaced," he said. "The doctors told me it is going to be sore and we have to get the trauma down. Guys play with this all the time. Im not discouraged. Its really small, but with the trauma it wont let me swing right now. Its the human body protecting itself." Nyjer Morgan and Jeff Francoeur also are in camp on minor league contracts. Morgan strained his left calf Wednesday. "The trainers say day to day," Francona explained. "We have to protect him from himself. Hes kind of on a mission here if not to show us, to show the world hes back. He plays so hard. He has to pass some tests on the medical side. Thats not to hinder him. Thats to protect him." Right-hander J.C. Ramirez broke his left thumb and sprained a ligament during a "B" game on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox and will be sidelined for eight-to-10 weeks. He is scheduled for surgery Monday with Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic. ' ' '