Gästebuch » Joe Mauer isn’t sure if Sunday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — marked the end of his time with the Minnesota Twins. Just in case Carlos Baerga Jersey , though, the regular season finale turned into a farewell befitting his remarkable career with his hometown team.Mauer doubled in his final at-bat, received one more pitch as catcher, and then walked off to an extended ovation as Minnesota likely said goodbye to the longtime face of its franchise during an emotional 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.The 35-year-old Mauer was playing the final game of an eight-year, $184 million contract. So far, he’s been noncommittal regarding his plans for next year and beyond.“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said. “I want to make sure I have some time just to take a deep breath and really be behind that decision.”There certainly were plenty of touches that made Sunday’s game feel like a final appearance, none more dramatic than Mauer’s surprise appearance behind the plate in the ninth.Mauer emerged from the dugout in his catching gear, the first time he’d worn it since late 2013, when a series of concussions forced him to move to first base. He stood alone at home plate as fans, teammates and opponents showered him with applause.The 2009 AL MVP caught one pitch from Matt Belisle. Then, with the theme music from “The Natural” playing over the speakers, he walked off to a final standing ovation and was replaced by Chris Gimenez.“We had an opportunity to do that, and I didn’t think that was going to be a possibility ever,” Mauer said. “I’m glad I took that opportunity.”Twins manager Paul Molitor said he’d worked out the logistics of the moment with White Sox manager Rick Renteria before the game.“Rick was fantastic. I told him I didn’t want to disrespect the game or the integrity of winning or losing,” Molitor said. “(I said) it would be a one-pitch scenario and we assured him that we would try to throw a ball as best as we could. And it worked out.”White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada was the batter at the time and said he was more than happy to do his part.“When I went to home plate, he said Yonder Alonso Jersey , ‘Hey, can you take the first pitch?'” Moncada said. “It was very exciting, and an emotional moment. I was just glad to be part of that.”Mauer is a three-time AL batting champ and six-time All-Star over 15 major league seasons, all with Minnesota. A three-sport star from St. Paul’s Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Mauer was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft and made his debut with the Twins in 2004.Even his final plate appearance was classic Mauer. He sent a line drive into the left-center gap off Juan Minaya, then hustled to second, sliding in just ahead of left fielder Nicky Delmonico’s throw.When asked if he thought about playing it safe to avoid getting thrown out in potentially his last at-bat, Mauer shrugged and said, “That’s just how I play the game. I saw that (Delmonico) was moving a little to his left, and in a one-run game I’m going to try to get into scoring position. You’ve got to keep playing the game.”Max Kepler and Jake Cave homered for the Twins, and reliever Andrew Vasquez (1-0) earned his first major league victory with one perfect inning of relief. Trevor May replaced Belisle and got three straight outs with the tying run on second in the ninth to earn his third save.Dylan Covey (5-14) gave up five runs over six innings.MAUER MOMENTSThe day was filled with memorable moments for Mauer, who started at first base and batted leadoff. For Sunday home games, each Twins player is joined at his position by a young fan for the national anthem. On Sunday, Mauer’s 5-year-old twin daughters, Emily and Maren, surprised him by running out to meet him at first base.“I thought I had it going pretty good, holding it together http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-ramirez-jersey , and then my two girls ran out on the field and I lost it there for a moment.The crowd of 30,144 gave Mauer an extended standing ovation before his first at-bat. He then shook hands with umpire Jim Reynolds and White Sox catcher Wellington Castillo before facing Covey.BY THE NUMBERSIf Mauer retires after this season, he will finish second in Twins history in games played, third in runs scored, second in hits, first in doubles, and second in walks. He broke the Twins’ career record for times on base earlier in the homestand.UNHAPPY ENDINGSThe White Sox lost their 100th game of the year, the first time they’ve done so since 1970.“As far as the numbers, they are what they are,” Renteria said. “I think I have to reflect on how we got to that point and some of the things we have to do to correct it, and move on.”Meanwhile, the Twins won their sixth straight game to end the season, giving them 78 victories — seven fewer than last year, when they were the AL’s second wild card.But Molitor clearly feels bullish about the team’s chances to return to the playoffs in 2019. When asked if the organization would give Mauer another memorable departure if he returned to play next year, the Twins manager replied, “Next year at this time, we’ll be planning for our next game Bradley Zimmer Jersey , so I don’t think the situation will be the same.”WHIFF WATCHMoncada struck out once, giving him a major league-leading 217. That’s just six behind the record of 223, set by Mark Reynolds of the Rockies in 2009.IN THE STANDSThe Twins announced an official home attendance of 1,959,197, which included two “home” games played in Puerto Rico in April. That total is their lowest since 2004, when they still played at the Metrodome. PHOENIX (AP) — Patrick Corbin got into a rhythm with catcher Alex Avila, leaving Philadelphia’s hitters flailing.The Arizona Diamondbacks have hit their stride at just the right time, leaving the desert with the NL West lead before heading out on a nine-game road trip.Corbin struck out nine in a combined four-hitter, David Peralta had four hits and two RBIs, and the Diamondbacks rolled over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 on Wednesday.Corbin (10-4) had the Phillies guessing most of the game, allowing four hits in 7 1/3 innings while reaching a career-high 183 strikeouts this season. The left-hander did not give up a home run for the ninth straight start, the longest stretch by a Diamondbacks pitcher since Brandon Webb in 2003.“I felt really good with everything,” Corbin said. “I made some quality pitches early on, working really well with Alex.”Peralta hit a two-run triple off Vince Velasquez (8-9) in the third inning, sending the Phillies right-hander to his first loss since June 25 against the New York Yankees.Peralta had his fourth four-hit game of the home stand and tied the franchise record with 10 hits in the three-game series against the Phillies. He is 18 for 31 since taking two days off with shoulder tightness last week.Eduardo Escobar added three RBIs for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks, who play three sub-.500 teams over the next nine games.“It is moving month http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-brandon-guyer-jersey ,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “August baseball, in my experience in baseball, is the best month because of what we’re walking through right now.”Velasquez allowed two or fewer runs in his six starts heading into Wednesday’s game, with a 0.95 ERA in four July starts. The right-hander allowed two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings to beat the Miami Marlins in his previous start.The Diamondbacks eclipsed the two-run barrier against Velasquez in the third inning, going up 3-0 on Peralta’s two-run triple and Escobar’s sacrifice fly.Arizona added a run in the fourth inning on Jon Jay’s double play. Velasquez did not come out for the fifth after allowing four runs and six hits.“Just a terrible display of executing my secondary pitches today,” Velasquez said.Pinch hitter Roman Quinn hit a one-out double off Corbin in the sixth inning, the only Phillies player to reach second base against the Arizona left-hander. Corbin faced two batters over the minimum.“Very simply, we just weren’t able to get anything doing against Corbin,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “He did a great job of mixing his pitches. He was in the zone. He did a great job.”ARIZONA’S STARTERSCorbin isn’t the only Diamondbacks starter pitching well at the right time of the season.Arizona’s starters posted a 1.27 ERA with 20 strikeouts and a .176 batting average against in the three games against the Phillies. The Diamondbacks’ staff has allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts since Aug. 3, their longest such streak since June 22-27, 2017.HOME RUN ROBBERYPhillies RF Nick Williams took a home run away from A.J. Pollock in the fifth inning, leaping against the wall and snaring the ball just before it went over.NUMBERSPeralta has six games of at least four hits, matching Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees for most in the majors this season. … The Phillies were shut out for the eighth time this season, seventh on the road. … Escobar’s 42 doubles lead the majors. … Philadelphia’s Cesar Hernandez has hit safely in all 14 of his starts against Arizona after going 2 for 3.TRAINER’S TABLEDiamondbacks: RF Steven Souza Jr. was sore after a crash into the wall Tuesday night and did not play. He is expected back Friday in Cincinnati.UP NEXTDiamondbacks RHP Clay Buchholz is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five starts heading into Friday’s game at Cincinnati. Phillies RHP Zach Eflin will make his 2018 debut when he faces the San Diego Padres on Friday.