MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes didnt come to Minnesota to be a saviour. He just wanted to throw strikes and help his new team win some games. On Sunday, he gave the Twins more proof they made a wise investment. Hughes won his third start in a row, Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki hit two-run doubles and the Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2. "It starts with the starting pitcher and he gave us a great opportunity against a very potent lineup," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was especially pleased with Hughes control. "You put guys on base, you miss a play and youll wind up killing yourself against those guys." Brought in as a free agent to help cure some of the Twins starting pitching woes, Hughes (3-1) again pitched like the ace the team hoped hed be. Hughes gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking none and striking out three. He became the first Twins pitcher to win three consecutive starts since Sam Deduno won three straight in July 2013. "I said in the off-season when they signed him I thought he was a really good sign," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He gives you a lot of confidence. (He can) go up and go away and let those guys who can really run the ball down run it down. He was effective. Hes added the cutter and a lot more." Hughes, who left the Yankees in the off-season to join the Twins, gave up four earned runs in each of his first three starts this season. He has given up a total of six earned runs and just one walk in 19 1-3 innings over his last three outings. The focus was on control the weekend after Twins pitchers issued 22 walks -- including 12 by their starters -- as the Dodgers swept three games at Target Field earlier in the week. Against the Orioles, the Twins walked just two batters in three games and took two of three in the series. "I always take pride in throwing strikes, making guys earn their way on base and not giving any free passes," Hughes said. "If were going to make mistakes in the zone and were going to get beat on aggressive pitches, so be it. But we dont want to let them on for free." After giving up a single to Nick Markakis to start the game, Hughes retired the next 14 batters. Nelson Cruz broke up Hughes shutout bid with two outs in the sixth, hitting a two-run shot for his ninth homer of the season. Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in eight chances this year. The Twins played most of the day without first baseman Joe Mauer, who left in the top of the third inning with lower-back spasms. Gardenhire said that Mauer underwent treatment throughout the game and said he thinks he could play on Monday. The Twins scored twice in the third, helped by the hustle of the Twins most slump-ridden hitter. Eduardo Escobar led off with a single off Miguel Gonzalez (1-3) and Pedro Florimon, who entered the game hitting .121, followed with a routine ground ball to second base. Running hard down the line, Florimon barely beat shortstop J.J. Hardys double-play relay to first base. Brian Dozier then singled and one out later, Plouffe lined a double into the left-field corner that scored both runners. Gonzalez walked the bases full with two outs, then walked Kurt Suzuki to force home a run. Reliever Troy Patton bailed him out of the jam by retiring Sam Fuld. The Twins tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh against reliever Ryan Webb. Chris Colabello hit a one-out double, Jason Kubel walked and Suzuki hit a double to left that scored both runners. Kubel slid home just ahead of catcher Matt Wieters tag, a call that was confirmed via an instant-replay challenge. NOTES: Plouffe leads the majors with 14 doubles. ... Minnesota wrapped up an eight-game homestand with a 3-5 record. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 4.34) is scheduled to start on Monday when the Twins begin a four-game series at Cleveland. Weston Richburg Jersey . The Irish golfer, whose father Patrick died from cancer, says he underwent surgery for sun spots. The 42-year-old Harrington told Irish radio station Today FM: "Ive had a number of skin cancers removed off my face. Cassius Marsh Jersey .C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Jimmie-Ward-Jersey/. Every. Single. Game. Thats 1,230 in total to cover the regular season. The man is Corey Sznajder, a soft-spoken 23-year-old Salisbury University grad who lives in Annapolis, Maryland and has been charting zone entries and zone exits throughout the NHL. I love big projects, he said. No kidding. At the 2013 Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, I met Eric Tulsky, who presented research on the value of controlled zone entries (short answer: about twice as valuable to enter with control of the puck rather than dumping it in) and Sznajder had charted a couple hundred games that were included in that study. San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p. Custom San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Running back Fred Jackson immediately waved off the Buffalo Bills training staff once the cart pulled up along the sideline. "Yeah, I knew it was out there," Jackson recalled Monday. "And I knew I didnt need it." Sore as his sprained left knee felt a day earlier, Jackson had no intention of being carted off during a game at Miami for the second time in two years. Rather than climb aboard, Jackson grabbed his helmet and headed back on the field, where he proceeded to play a key role in a 23-21 win over the Dolphins. "Oh yeah, I was motivated," said Jackson, still stung by the memory of breaking his right leg at Miami in November 2011. "That was something that ran through my mind yesterday. And I wanted to be out there." Wearing a brace hes had on since first hurting his knee three weeks ago, Jackson persevered in producing a gutty performance that continued to solidify his position as the Bills vocal and inspirational leader. He scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter after aggravating the injury a series earlier, when teammate Scott Chandler rolled into the side of Jacksons knee on the sideline. And he was still at it in the final minutes. Jackson gained 16 yards on three consecutive carries -- including a 10-yard run to convert a third-and-4 at the Dolphins 28 -- to set up Dan Carpenters game-winning 31-yard field goal with 33 seconds left. He finished with 36 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving in helping the Bills (3-4) snap a two-game skid and win a road game for the first time since Oct. 14, 2012, at Arizona. And dont be surprised to see Jackson playing this Sunday at New Orleans (5-1). "Its definitely sore today," Jackson said. "But I expect to be out there. Ill do everything I can." His teammates would expect nothing less from the seven-year veteran. "Hes got a lot of heart. Hes one of those guys whos a natural leader," guard Kraig Urbik said. "When we need a little pick up or need a little extra, hes always the guy to provide it. Hes one of those guys that we alwayys rally behind.dddddddddddd" Jacksons resilience is beginning to reflect the identity of a young team that has shown no signs of quit this season despite a series of injuries to key regulars -- including rookie quarterback EJ Manuel (sprained right knee). Buffalos three wins have been determined by a combined 6 points, and four losses determined by a combined 25. And the Bills have either led or been within a score of the lead in all seven games. Thats well ahead of the modest expectations that came with a team that underwent a near top-to-bottom overhaul this off-season and hasnt been to the playoffs in 13 seasons -- the NFLs longest active drought. "Im extremely proud," rookie coach Doug Marrone said. "Were fighting, fighting, fighting. And thats what were going to keep doing. ... Granted, were not happy with the record or where were at, but were working on changing that every single day." Marrone singled out Jackson for the leadership hes provided. "I think Fred is an outstanding pro, and he leads by example," Marrone said. "Theres a lot of youth in him which were very happy with." Youth is a relative term for Jackson. At 32, hes not sure how many more seasons hes got left, or how much longer his wobbly left knee can hold up this season. That leaves him focusing on short-term objectives, such as doing everything he can to turn the Bills into winners this season. "Weve got a great opportunity in front of us right now. And I want to be a part of it," Jackson said. "The confidence in this locker room is sky-high in here. We believe in ourselves. And theres nothing more powerful than a locker room that has confidence in itself." NOTES: Bills LB Manny Lawson (hamstring) is expected to be limited in returning to practice this week after he was hurt Sunday. ... Buffalo has allowed two TDs rushing this season, the teams fewest through seven games since allowing two in 1982, according to STATS LLC. ... The Bills and Broncos are the NFLs only two teams to have scored at least 20 points in each game this season. 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