Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save

MINNEAPOLIS -- It had been nearly two months since Joe Saunders pitched in the majors and 10 days since his last rehab start in the minor leagues. So it was understandable if he was a little shaky early in his return to the Texas Rangers rotation. He spent most of the outing searching for his best stuff, but still managed to shut down the struggling Minnesota Twins offence. Saunders pitched five scoreless innings and Luis Sardinas drove in the only run of the game to lift the Rangers to a 1-0 victory over the Twins on Wednesday night. "It was a battle for the first time coming back in almost two months," Saunders said. "It was a struggle, but I made some good pitches, got some clutch strikeouts against some pretty good hitters and kept the team right where it needed to be." Saunders gave up five hits and struck out six after being activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. "I had to take a step back there in the first inning, relax and calm the nerves a little bit," Saunders said. "Its been a long time coming for me. Its the longest Ive ever been out. It was a good start." Sardinas had a two-out single off struggling Twins reliever Jared Burton (1-2) in the seventh inning to help propel the Rangers to their seventh win in the past 10 games. Kyle Gibson gave up six hits and struck out four in six scoreless innings, but the Twins left nine runners on base and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer went 0 for 4. Shawn Tolleson (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings of relief for the win and Joakim Soria picked up his ninth save in 10 tries, one night after his error in the ninth inning led to his first blown save of the season. Saunders had only made one other start this season, but he took a line drive from Evan Longoria off his left ankle in his season debut on April 4. Saunders made four rehab starts and had his breaking ball working in his return to the Rangers rotation on Wednesday night. Saunders stranded seven baserunners, including getting Brian Dozier to fly out with the bases loaded in the second. With his pitch count at 97 after five innings, manager Ron Washington elected to go to the bullpen rather than push Saunders too hard in his first start back. "Hes a competitor and he had to compete tonight, especially early in the game when they couldve done some damage," Washington said. Gibson was just as sharp, allowing just one extra-base hit and breezing through six. But he didnt get any help from a slumping offence that has scored just 10 runs in the past six games. Mauer had a chance in the seventh inning with the tying run on third base and two outs, but he chased a breaking ball for strike three and heard boos from a frustrated hometown fan base. Mauer is hitting .277 with 15 RBIs and six doubles on the season. "I feel pretty good actually, which is even more frustrating," said Mauer, who has been dealing with a sore back for parts of the season. "Im hitting a lot of balls hard and just not having much to show for it. So hopefully that turns here soon. just got to try to have some good at bats, keep having good at-bats and hopefully they start falling." Elvis Andrus was ejected in the sixth inning after he muttered something to home plate umpire Pat Hoberg regarding a low strike called earlier in his at-bat. It was the second ejection of the season for Andrus and Washington moved Sardinas from second base to shortstop and put Rougned Odor at second base to fill the hole. NOTES: Twins CF Aaron Hicks was a late scratch with a back issue, forcing manager Ron Gardenhire to start SS Danny Santana in CF. ... While on a rehab assignment for a groin injury, Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey felt soreness in his shoulder and was brought to Minnesota for examination. Another stint on the disabled list is likely after the Twins diagnose the injury. ... Alex Rios extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the fourth. ... Gardenhire challenged a play in the seventh inning when Leonys Martin was ruled safe on a steal. Gardenhire claimed Dozier applied the tag, but the play was upheld after a 51-second review. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys .com) - Markus Granlund scored the game-winning goal as the Calgary Flames used an early offensive flurry to defeat the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, on Monday. Cris Carter Youth Jersey .Hoffenheim forward Anthony Modeste opened the scoring on a counterattack in the 15th minute, shooting though Jaroslav Drobnys legs after Lewis Holtby lost the ball in midfield. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Adam-Thielen-Vikings-Jersey/ . Saltalamacchia has agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Miami Marlins, two people familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday. Chuck Foreman Vikings Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Adrian Peterson Vikings Jersey . "First, I would like to offer my deepest and sincerest apologies for any harm I have inflicted on University of Missouri defensive lineman, Michael Sam," the statement read.PHILADELPHIA - Despite his diminutive size, Jimmy Rollins always believed he could hit a baseball. Turns out hes been good enough to amass more hits in a Phillies uniform than any other player. Rollins singled in the fifth to pass Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt to become the Phillies hits leader and Domonic Brown capped the inning with a three-run homer, leading Philadelphia to a 7-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Rollins got hit No. 2,235 off Edwin Jackson, sending a 3-1 pitch into right field to open the fifth. The game was then delayed for an on-field celebration. "It was very cool," said Rollins. The 5-foot-8 shortstop never let his stature deter him. "Thats something my mom and dad taught me when Im young," he said. "(Im) probably not going to be biggest guy, but that doesnt mean you have to be weak, doesnt mean you dont have confidence. And then size isnt really going to matter. Ive always had that belief in myself and without it I wouldnt have been here." Chase Utley also homered for Philadelphia, which has won four of five following a dismal 1-8 stretch. David Buchanan (2-3), in his fifth start for injured lefty Cliff Lee (elbow), allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. But the day belonged to Rollins. He made his debut with the Phillies on Sept. 17, 2000, and has played his entire career in Philadelphia. "To be the all-time hits leader, that speaks for itself," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It was well worth it. Fourteen years of effort with one uniform in a lot of ways thats old school." Said Cubs manager Rick Renteria: "Hes put together what is potentially a Hall of Fame career. Hes a credit to Philadelphia and the Phillies. I think hes admired all over." Schmidt, a Phillies TV analyst for Sunday games, retrieved Rollins bat and greeted the 2007 NL MVP with a high-five and hug at first base. The entire Phillies team then came out from the dugout to offer congratulatory hugs and handshakes. After the Phillies left the field, Schmidt took Rollins hand and held it in the air. Fans cheered and gave the duo a standing ovation as fireworks erupted from the large video board in left field. "I told him, Congrats, it couldnt happen to a better guy," Schmidt said later in the game. "Im glad I was here. My heart is pounding." Schmidt had doubts that any player would break his hits record in nootoriously tough Philadelphia and in the era of free agency.dddddddddddd But Rollins mentality on and off the field, Schmidt says, allowed him to do it. "Hes very comfortable in his own skin," Schmidt said. "Hes got a nice, short stride and stays relaxed (at the plate). Hes a great clutch hitter, tremendous . much better than me. One of the great compliments you can pay a hitter is (to) say I want him up when the game is on the line." Schmidt said Rollins should get "definite consideration" for the Hall of Fame right now and believes Rollins could land in Cooperstown with continued solid play for three or four more years. "He knows talent, thats pretty cool," Rollins said. Schmidt also knows hitting. Upon leaving the field, Schmidt was stopped in the dugout by the slumping Brown, who asked for a hitting lesson. Schmidt said he told Brown to drive through the ball with his left hand. Minutes later, Brown broke the game open with a three-run homer to right, his fourth of the season after hitting 27 last year, that put Philadelphia ahead 7-3 and chased Jackson (4-7). Rollins received strong ovations when he came to the plate his first two at-bats, but he grounded out to first base in the first inning and lined out sharply to first in the second. He finished 1 for 4. Justin Ruggiano, Luis Valbuena and Mike Olt homered for Chicago. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances. Jackson allowed seven runs — six earned — on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. Utley put Philadelphia in front with a solo shot in the first, but Olt answered in the second. It was the 10th homer in 22 hits for the Cubs rookie. Ben Revere and Carlos Ruiz had RBI hits, along with Junior Lakes fielding error in centre field, in the bottom of the second helped Philadelphia take a 4-1 lead. NOTES: The Cubs lost an eighth-inning challenge when replays upheld first base umpire Kerwin Danleys decision that Nate Schierholtz was out at first base. The delay was 2 minutes, 17 seconds. . Jackson fell to 0-5 in five regular-season starts at Citizens Bank Park. . Chicago dropped its NL-worst road record to 12-25. The Cubs havent won consecutive road games on the same trip since last Sept. 10-11. . Cubs left-hander Travis Wood (6-5, 4.95) opposes Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett (3-5, 4.41) in the series finale at 1:35 Sunday. ' ' '