Joe Nathan

Gary Sheffield homered twice and keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning last night, sending the New York Yankees to a seesaw 13-10 win over the Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis. Down, 9-3, the Twins came back and almost swept the three-game series. Shannon Stewart hit a two-out, two-run triple past Sheffield's lunge in right field, giving the Twins a 10-9 lead in the eighth. But the Yankees bounced back against closer Joe Nathan (1-1), who had not allowed a run in 29 innings.

The Texas Rangers aren't worried about Joe Nathan, even though their new closer has already lost two games. Seattle rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against Nathan for a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. "He'll be fine," said Michael Young, the Rangers longest-tenured player. "We have all the confidence in the world in Joe. We look forward to getting another lead and getting him back out there. " Nathan (0-2), the long-time Minnesota Twins closer who signed with Texas last winter, needed only 11 pitches to save the Rangers' opener.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Minnesota watched the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate clinching their first playoff berth Saturday. One day later, the Twins picked up some much-needed momentum heading into a key showdown as Francisco Liriano allowed one run over seven innings to lead the visitors to a 4-1 victory. The Twins remained 2 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago, which beat Kansas City, 3-0. After an off day, they open a three-game series tomorrow in Minnesota. "It's our home," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

BASEBALL Joe Mauer’s return to the Twins lineup is set for tomorrow after the All-Star catcher finished his minor league rehabilitation assignment yesterday by facing teammate Joe Nathan in a batting practice session in Florida. Mauer hasn’t played for Minnesota since April 12, plagued by weakness and soreness in his legs and throwing shoulder. He’s hitting .235 in just nine games this season after signing an eight-year, $184 million extension. Nathan, ineffective earlier this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, will also travel to Minnesota today and be...

Joe Mauer is staying home. The American League MVP agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with Minnesota yesterday that includes a full no-trade clause, a massive deal that shows the Twins are no longer spending like a small-market club. The deal covers the 2011-2018 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major league history. Starting next season, the All-Star catcher will make $23 million a year. The agreement came just hours after the Twins received bad news.

Eduardo Perez tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with his second homer of the game and Jonny Gomes walked with the bases loaded with two outs in the 11th, giving the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 4-3 victory over the visiting New York Yankees last night. The Devil Rays rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Randy Johnson and Mariano Rivera to force extra innings, then loaded the bases in the 11th with Carl Crawford's double off Alan Embree (1-5) and two walks, including Scott Proctor's intentional pass to Aubrey Huff.

Kenny Rogers shrugged off the constant jeering from the fans to pitch another gem in Oakland, and the Texas Rangers held on to beat the Athletics, 10-8, yesterday. Rogers (11-4), who will find out later this week if his 20-game suspension for shoving two cameramen June 29 will be shortened, allowed six hits over seven innings to win for the 20th time in his past 21 decisions in Oakland. Hank Blalock matched his career high with four hits, including a homer and two doubles, as the Rangers ended a three-game road losing streak and broke out against an Oakland pitching staff that did not allow a...

After facing Joe Mauer in a live batting practice session in Florida on Wednesday morning, Joe Nathan deemed himself close to returning to the Minnesota Twins. It’s still not quite clear when Nathan’s All-Star catcher will join him. Nathan pitched to Mauer and Twins prospect Miguel Sano at the team’s spring training headquarters. Nathan has been on the disabled list since May 23 with soreness in his right forearm, a condition related to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last year.

MINNEAPOLIS - After a remarkable start to the season, Brandon Webb seems to have lost his magic. The Minnesota Twins may have found it. Brian Buscher had two hits and two RBIs, helping the Twins complete a three-game sweep of Webb's Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-3 victory yesterday. Coming off his shortest outing since 2004, when he lasted just 3 1/3 innings against Oakland last week, Webb (11-4) gave up five runs - four earned - and eight hits in seven innings. The 2006 NL Cy Young winner started the season 9-0, but is 2-4 with a 4.64 ERA since.

Aaron Small replaced injured Mike Mussina and pitched his first career shutout, and Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer to help the New York Yankees to a 7-0 victory over the Athletics yesterday in Oakland, Calif. Hideki Matsui drove in New York's first two runs without a hit and Alex Rodriguez added a two-run single in a six-run seventh inning. Small's five-hitter followed a 12-0 loss in the series opener and yet another team meeting called before the game by New York manager Joe Torre.

After facing Joe Mauer in a live batting practice session in Florida on Wednesday morning, Joe Nathan deemed himself close to returning to the Minnesota Twins. It’s still not quite clear when Nathan’s All-Star catcher will join him. Nathan pitched to Mauer and Twins prospect Miguel Sano at the team’s spring training headquarters. Nathan has been on the disabled list since May 23 with soreness in his right forearm, a condition related to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last year.

The Chicago White Sox came barreling into Minnesota playing some of the best baseball in the American League and hoping to bring the surging Twins crashing back to earth. That pursuit has been delayed for a day. The series opener was postponed by rain Tuesday night, with no makeup date announced. The Twins did say there would not be a doubleheader during this series. “Where’s the Metrodome when we need it?’’ White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen joked. After an inaugural season of near perfect weather at outdoor Target Field, the Twins have had three home games...

Doug Fister cruised through the first six innings against Minnesota, keeping the struggling Twins off balance by mixing his pitches and getting them to flail at a few outside the zone. It all unraveled in the seventh when a balk forced home the go-ahead run, and Fister was still shaking his head about the call after the game. Nick Blackburn outdueled Fister by delivering a complete game the Twins desperately needed and the Mariners watched their six-game winning streak come to an end in a 4-2 loss on Tuesday night.

Joe Mauer is staying home. The American League MVP agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with Minnesota yesterday that includes a full no-trade clause, a massive deal that shows the Twins are no longer spending like a small-market club. The deal covers the 2011-2018 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major league history. Starting next season, the All-Star catcher will make $23 million a year. The agreement came just hours after the Twins received bad news.

The AL Central has come down to the final day. The Detroit Tigers dropped into a first-place tie with Minnesota, looking listless last night in a 5-1 loss to Freddy Garcia and the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Tigers manager Jim Leyland made two pitching changes in the second inning, trying to find a way to end his team’s slump. Instead, Detroit, which allowed six stolen bases, lost for the fifth time in seven games. Earlier in the day, the Twins beat Kansas City, 5-4, putting them even with Detroit at 85-76 going into the final day of the regular season.

Michael Cuddyer’s two-run homer was all Brian Duensing needed to beat Detroit and move Minnesota within three games of the AL Central lead, energizing the Twins in a 3-0 victory over the Tigers last night in Minneapolis. This is the closest the Twins (75-72) have been to first place since Aug. 2. They’re 6-1 at home this year against Detroit. Duensing gave up two infield singles among just four hits and only one walk over 6 1-3 innings, before yielding to the bullpen to finish Minnesota’s fifth straight victory.

George Steinbrenner is tired of waiting for his New York Yankees to get going. Now he's angry. Miguel Tejada hit his eighth career grand slam as the Orioles roughed up Kevin Brown and completed a three-game sweep of New York with an 8-4 victory yesterday at Baltimore. The last-place Yankees (4-8) have dropped four straight and eight of 10 overall. "Enough is enough. I am bitterly disappointed as I'm sure all Yankee fans are by the lack of performance by our team," Steinbrenner said in a statement issued immediately after the game.

Mark Buehrle gave the White Sox the veteran performance they needed on short rest. Now it's up to a youngster to keep their season going against a familiar foe. Buehrle pitched seven strong innings and, backed by four double plays, beat the Cleveland Indians, 5-1, yesterday at U.S. Cellular Field to keep Chicago in the race for the American League Central crown. The White Sox still trail the Twins by a half-game after Minnesota won, meaning they must play a makeup game at home today against Detroit.

Mark Buehrle gave the White Sox the veteran performance they needed on short rest. Now it's up to a youngster to keep their season going against a familiar foe. Buehrle pitched seven strong innings and, backed by four double plays, beat the Cleveland Indians, 5-1, yesterday at U.S. Cellular Field to keep Chicago in the race for the American League Central crown. The White Sox still trail the Twins by a half-game after Minnesota won, meaning they must play a makeup game at home today against Detroit.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Minnesota watched the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate clinching their first playoff berth Saturday. One day later, the Twins picked up some much-needed momentum heading into a key showdown as Francisco Liriano allowed one run over seven innings to lead the visitors to a 4-1 victory. The Twins remained 2 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago, which beat Kansas City, 3-0. After an off day, they open a three-game series tomorrow in Minnesota. "It's our home," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.