Pirate Galaxy » essee Titans was important, and moves t

MINNEAPOLIS -- Even after 13 years in the major leagues, Joe Mauer found a new way to win a ballgame.Mauer drew a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.It was his first career game-ending walk and only the second time hed won a game in his final plate appearance.You dont get that opportunity a whole lot, or I havent, I guess, over my career, Mauer said. Those are fun situations to be in and obviously when you come through like tonight thats even better.Dan Jennings (4-3) hit Eddie Rosario with a full-count pitch to lead off the 12th. One out later Byron Buxton walked. Reliever Tommy Kahnle then came on and walked Brian Dozier and Mauer to push across the winning run.Mauer was hitting for Robbie Grossman, who leads Twins regulars in on-base percentage. But the decision was a no-brainer according to Twins manager Paul Molitor.I went with the resume, he said. Nothing magical about that.Trevor May (2-2) was the last of four Twins relievers to pitch a scoreless inning, backing up the strong performance of starter Ricky Nolasco. The right-hander, who has been subject of trade talks, cruised through a season-high eight innings, allowing just one run and three hits with one walk and six strikeouts.Adam Eaton put the White Sox on the board early when he led off the game with a long home run to right-center field. After that, however, only one White Sox runner reached second base against Nolasco.It just seemed like we were chasing stuff all night, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.Chicago starter Jose Quintana matched Nolasco all night, allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. Buxtons two-out double in the seventh inning ended his night after 112 pitches, but Matt Albers came on to retire Dozier and strand Buxton.Nolasco was throwing a good game, and when you saw that, it was trying to keep it close, said Quintana, who has earned no-decisions in quality starts his last two times out.LEADOFF LUNACYWhen Eaton led off the game with a home run it marked the 12th time the Twins have given up a home run to the first batter of the game. That ties the 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers record for the most leadoff home runs allowed in a season. It was also the fifth time a Twins opponent has gone deep to start a game in the last 10 days.MORNEAUS RETURNJustin Morneau was a visiting player for the first time in the city he called home for a decade. The Twins traded their former first baseman and 2006 AL MVP late in the 2013 season. After stints with Pittsburgh and Colorado, Morneau signed with the White Sox in June. Since the trade he had only been back to Target Field for the 2014 Home Run Derby. He batted fifth as the designated hitter for the White Sox on Friday.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: 3B Todd Frazier (flu) was scratched from the starting lineup. ... Manager Robin Ventura said theres a good chance that LHP Carlos Rodon (wrist) would return to the rotation on Sunday against the Twins.Twins: 3B Trevor Plouffe (rib) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester on Monday.UP NEXTWhite Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (2-5) has a streak of five straight quality starts in July. On Saturday night hell face Twins LHP Tommy Milone (3-3), who had won three straight starts before the Red Sox pounded him for three home runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings on July 24. Sammy Watkins Super Bowl Jersey . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. Alex Okafor Super Bowl Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.officialkcchiefspro.com/Travis-kelce-chiefs-jersey/ . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Kendall Fuller Super Bowl Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Derrick Nnadi Super Bowl Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half.Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is facing a race to be fit for Thursdays Thanksgiving encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers after he entered concussion protocol. During the fourth quarter, Luck was tackled by Austin Johnson and Derrick Morgan. His arms pinned to his sides, Luck fell to the ground as the back of his helmet hit the turf.Luck also took some other big hits during the final period, but the Colts couldnt confirm which tackle had caused the concussion. NFL Week 11: Pick Six Neil Reynolds reviews the weeks action - with the Cowboys, Jared Goff are on the agenda. Safety Clayton Geathers was also taken out of the game with a concussion and will face the same battle to be ready for week 12 as Luck. After we were all done with the locker room, both guys didnt feel right and went in the training room, and both were evaluated for concussions. Both are in the protocol, said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano.Following entry into concussion protocol each player must slowly return to training with bike work, strength training and non-contact practice, before full training and an independent neurological assessment. Luck was hit eight times and sacked twice, with the concussion occurring in the fourth quarter Chasing down the Houston Texans for a play-off spot, the Colts 24-17 victory over AFC South rival Tennessee Titans was important, and moves the franchise to 5-5, just one game back from the division lead.ddddddddddddHowever, given the short turnaround time between Sundays win and Indianapolis Thanksgiving day game against the Steelers, it is highly unlikely Luck will be cleared to play, and Pagano is planning to start back up Scott Tolzein.He has a limited amount of exposure, but he is a pro, Pagano said. If he has to roll and be the guy, then he will do a great job. He prepares really well every single day.Tolzein has just two starts in the NFL, both coming in 2013 as a replacement for Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He signed for the Colts in March, following the retirement of Matt Hasselbeck.Sky Sports is your home of NFL with all the Thanksgiving day action. Join us for 24 hours of NFL on Sky Sports 1, as well as Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions live on Pick TV from 5:30pm. Also See: ICYMI: Week 11 Raiders beat Texans in Mexico Bengals duo injured Thanksgiving on Pick ' ' '