neers: Well, its great to get points, but we should | Forum

MINNEAPOLIS -- Tyler Duffey pitched six effective innings and Minnesota took advantage of two misplays by center fielder Carlos Gomez in a three-run fifth that sent the Twins past the Houston Astros 3-1 on Monday night. Cheap Air Max Free Shipping .Gomez, the former Twins outfielder, let Jorge Polancos single skip by him for a two-base error that allowed one run to score. Then he lost a fly ball off Juan Centenos bat, turning it into an RBI triple.Danny Santana followed with a run-scoring single, and Minnesota won for the seventh time in nine games.Duffey (7-8) permitted one run on four hits and struck out eight. Three relievers combined for three hitless innings, and Brandon Kintzler finished for his 10th save in 11 chances.Collin McHugh (7-9) gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings, losing his third straight start.Eddie Rosario had three hits for Minnesota, which has come around after a dreadful first half of the season.The Twins entered the year with postseason hopes after a surprising 2015 season but then finished the first half as the worst team in the American League. But since July 2, Minnesota has gone 21-12 and is playing the role of spoiler well.Since July 2, Minnesota leads the majors in runs, hits, doubles and triples.Polanco, called up from the minors when the Twins traded All-Star infielder Eduardo Nunez to San Francisco, has played a big part. Polanco has hit .378 with six RBI in nine games since being recalled.Meanwhile, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said Rosario will get a look in center field after the team sent Byron Buxton to Triple-A on Sunday. Rosario has hit .461 with four RBI in six games as the starting center fielder.Houstons playoff push has stalled as the offense has struggled. The Astros have lost 10 of their past 13 games and scored more than three runs just three times during that span.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: 2B Jose Altuve was given the night off, snapping the longest active streak in the majors at 202 consecutive games played. . Right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson (left oblique strain) was scheduled to throw off a mound, and manager A.J. Hinch said Gregerson is progressing nicely. Hinch expects Gregerson to throw a few more times before being activated from the DL and said a rehab assignment likely wont be needed. . INF Luis Valbuena (right hamstring) is back in Houston and Hinch said Valbuena has done some increased running.Twins: Trevor Plouffe returned to the lineup after missing 32 games with a broken rib. Plouffe started at third base and went 1 for 4.UP NEXTHector Santiago (10-5, 4.37 ERA) makes his first home start for the Twins on Tuesday night. The left-hander was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline and gave up four runs on five hits in five innings in his Minnesota debut at Cleveland. Houston counters with RHP Mike Fiers (7-5, 4.34), who tied a season high with seven strikeouts but took the loss against Toronto in his last appearance. Replica Air Max .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Wholesale Air Max . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars talk every day about starting fast.In two preseason games, theyve been able to experience it.Blake Bortles threw two touchdowns passes in three drives and gave the Jaguars an early lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rallied to win 27-21 in the preseason Saturday night.We talk about starting fast all the time and I think were finally starting to do that, said Bortles, who led the Jags to 10 points on his first two drives in the preseason opener.Second in the NFL last season with 35 TD passes, Bortles connected with T.J. Yeldon for a 14-yard score in the first quarter and then lofted a 24-yarder to Allen Hurns in the back of the end zone in the second.Bortles completed 8 of 11 passes for 85 yards, with no sacks and few mistakes.Jameis Winston had a slow start, misfiring on his first six passes, but rebounded against Jacksonvilles second-team defense and found Mike Evans on a fade route for a 4-yard score. Winston finished 3-of-10 passing for 28 yards, with an interception.Tampa Bay (1-1) and Jacksonville (0-2) held two joint practices during the week, so they had plenty of in-person preparation before a mostly meaningless exhibition.SEMINOLES STAND OUTWinston wasnt the only former Florida State player who made an impact in the game.Jaguars rookie CB Jalen Ramsey had three tackles in his NFL debut. Jaguars LB Telvin Smith had a near-interception and was flagged for a late hit on Winston.Bucs rookie Roberto Aguayo was wide right on a 32-yard field goal and later on a 49-yarder. Those were Aguayos second and third misses of the preseason. A second-round pick from FSU who finished his college career as the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, Aguayo missed an extra point in the preseason opener at Philadelphia.Winston, Ramsey, Smith, Aguayo and Jaguars WR Rashad Greene were teammates on Floridas State 2014 national championship team.ODD CALLSThere were four penalties on coaches, including three in the first half. The Jaguars were flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct because of where coaches were on the field, although one of them was offset since Tampa Bays staff was called for the same thing. The Bucss were penalized 15 yards for it early in the second half. Clearance Air Max. They called it -- both ways, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said, laughing. Yep.NIGHT OFFBuccaneers: LB Daryl Smith, returning to Jacksonville nearly four years after playing his 126th and final game for the Jaguars, did not dress for his homecoming. The 34-year-old veteran also sat out both joint practices during the week, but Koetter said it was precautionary.Jaguars: Veteran DT Roy Miller got the night off for Jacksonville.ROOKIE WATCHBuccaneers: First-round pick Vernon Hargreaves III had two interceptions in a span of six plays. Hargreaves stepped in front of Chad Hennes pass late in the first half and returned it 28 yards to set up a field goal. He picked off Henne again during the opening drive of the third quarter.Jaguars: LB Myles Jack played with the second-team defense and finished with two tackles.POSITION BATTLESBuccaneers: CB Johnthan Banks, a former second-round pick who dropped on the depth chart following the additions of Hargreaves and Brent Grimes, had an interception.Jaguars: Backup CB Dwayne Gratz, vying for a roster spot in the final year of his contract, had an interception. LG Mackenzy Bernadeau played well despite getting flagged for a false start early.INJURY UPDATEBuccaneers: RB Doug Martin (ribs) and DT Gerald McCoy (ankle), both Pro Bowlers, were held out with minor injuries. Reserve WR Evan Spencer left the game with a knee injury.Jaguars: S Peyton Thompson and OT Jeff Linkenbach were evaluated for concussions. CB Nick Marshall (finger) and DT Abry Jones (quad contusion) also were hurt. LT Kelvin Beachum (knee) missed his second straight preseason game.QUOTABLEBuccaneers: Well, its great to get points, but we should have more. -- Koetter on failing to score after a long, opening drive.Jaguars: I thought the guys did a really good job of rebounding and coming back and putting up some points. -- Bortles on scoring two touchdowns after an ugly first series.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '