by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (6/8/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer went 3 for 5 and hit his sixth home run of the season in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Nationals. It was Mauer's first three-hit performance since May 25, elevating his batting average to .329 in 225 at-bats.
Joe Mauer doesn't have many cold streaks
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (6/6/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer extended his hitting streak to seven games Wednesday with a single against the Royals. Since going hitless in consecutive games May 19-20, Mauer is batting .316 (18 for 57) with a double, three home runs, five RBI, eight walks, 11 runs and 12 strikeouts in his last 14 games.
Since being held without a hit in a season-high five straight games from April 25-29, Mauer is batting .357 with a .441 on-base percentage, .532 slugging percentage and .973 OPS in his last 31 games. His batting average has gone from .289 to .329 in that span.
Joe Mauer continues to show power with fifth home run
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/30/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer continued his power surge by hitting his third home run in six games Thursday against the Brewers, going 2 for 4 with two RBI as the team's designated hitter. It was Mauer's fifth home run. He had 10 HRs in 2012.
Mauer is hitting .333, bouncing back from a slow 10-day period at the end of April in which he went 2 for 33 during a nine-game stretch.
Replay proving fruitful for Joe Mauer
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/28/2013) Replay review is starting to become a more accepted part of the game, and few players are as familiar with it as Twins catcher Joe Mauer at this point. Mauer had a double reviewed and called a home run Monday against the Brewers, the second time in three days he had a home run upheld via video review.
"It's funny, that's my second review in three days," Mauer told reporters after the game. "The first time they ruled it a home run originally and the outfielder came in and tried to plead his case that it wasn't. They went back and reviewed it and it was."
Mauer went 1 for 3 in the game with the solo home run and a pair of walks, while also scoring three times, in a 6-3 win. He is batting .339 on the season with four home runs.
Joe Mauer breaks up no-hit bid in ninth inning
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/24/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer broke up a no-hit bid by Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez in the ninth inning Friday, finishing 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.
The hit gives Mauer a .337/.412/.471 line with two home runs in 172 at-bats. He's 3 for 9 in the Tigers' series as the teams head into the weekend.
Joe Mauer returns to lineup with two-hit game
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer returned from back stiffness to go 2 for 5 with a double and a run as the the designated hitter in a 12-6 loss to the Red Sox Saturday.
The two-hit performance extends Mauer's hitting streak to 15 games and raises his season line to .351/.430/.503 in 172 plate appearances.
Joe Mauer back in lineup
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/18/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who missed Friday's game due to a stiff back, returned to the starting lineup Saturday against Boston.
Mauer is the designated hitter and batting second.
Joe Mauer dealing with stiff back
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/17/2013) Twins designated hitter Joe Mauer was held out of Friday's lineup against the Red Sox due to back stiffness.
Mauer has a .462/.556/.673 slash line in his first 13 May games. He is hitting .349 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 146 at-bats. He is listed as day to day.
Joe Mauer hit streak at 14 games
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Twins designated hitter Joe Mauer, who was given Wednesday's day game off from starting behind the plate, recorded three hits during a loss to Chicago.
Mauer, batting second, went 3 for 5 with a double but didn't drive in or score a run. He's batting .349 and is currently among the top five in the American League in hitting.
Mauer has hit in 14 straight ballgames and has gone 25 for 56 (.446) over that stretch with 11 doubles. That said, he has just five RBI and no other extra-base hits during the streak.
Usual suspects pacing Twins' offense
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) The Twins have had one of the AL's top offenses in May and it's no surprise the usual suspects are leading the charge. Catcher Joe Mauer rides an 11-game hitting streak into Monday's game against the White Sox, while Justin Morneau has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games.
Mauer is batting .444 (20 for 45) with five RBI, eight walks, 10 doubles and 11 runs during his hitting streak, and Morneau is batting .339 (21 for 62) with one home run, four doubles, 10 runs and 15 RBI in his last 16 games.
"Joe had his little cold stretch we probably won't see again this year, but is back on fire. And Justin has been staying on the ball really good and putting some really nice swings on it," manager Ron Gardenhire said, per MLB.com. "We know we can score some runs and our offense is starting to click a little bit, and that's fun to watch."
Joe Mauer racking up doubles in Boston
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been a doubles machine in the first three games of Minnesota's series at Boston. Mauer doubled twice Wednesday and has doubled five times since the series began Monday.
"Three games here, I'm seeing some good pitches. I like hitting here," Mauer said, per The Star Tribune.
Mauer carries a six-game hitting streak into Thursday's series finale at Boston. He's batting .379 (11 for 29) with a .586 slugging percentage, two RBI, six doubles and seven runs in that span.
Joe Mauer with three-hit night
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer doubled twice among three hits Wednesday in Boston as Minnesota earned a 15-8 win.
Batting second, Mauer went 3 for 5 with a walk and three runs scored as the Twins pounded out 20 hits.
The 30-year-old has recorded three consecutive multi-hit games and is batting .311 on the season. He's doubled six times during a seven-game hitting streak. Mauer has also walked in five straight games.
Joe Mauer out of starting lineup Wednesday
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer will get a day off Wednesday.
Manager Ron Gardenhire hinted that Mauer might be out of the lineup after Tuesday's game. Mauer has played in every Twins game this season. Mauer is hitting .287/.356/.404 in 94 at-bats this season. Ryan Doumit will get the start behind the plate with Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez on the mound.
Twins looking to rest Joe Mauer
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who went 1 for 4 Tuesday, is expected to receive the day off Wednesday and possibly Friday as he continues to work his way out of a slump.
Mauer has played all 22 games this season -- the only player on his team to do so. With the Twins off Thursday, manager Ron Gardenhire may give Mauer more rest, especially after taking a foul tip off the arm Monday.
"Tomorrow's a day game, and I look at that, because of the off-day, as a chance to maybe get through tonight and see how [Ryan] Doumit is feeling," Gardenhire said. "He had a flu bug yesterday. We're trying to get him through that. But my goal is to maybe give [Mauer] tomorrow and have the off-day, back-to-back days. Get him through tonight, though.
Mauer is in a 3-for-33 slump. He is hitting .287 with two homers and eight RBI in 94 at-bats.
Joe Mauer brakes out first-base mitt
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013)Joe Mauer received the start at first base for the Twins on Saturday against the Rangers, his first time appearing there this season. He started 30 games at that position a year ago.
"He played there a lot last year," Gardenhire said. "He hasn't played there even in spring training, but he has been taking ground balls over there the last few days with [coach Joe] Vavra hitting to him. But he's an athlete. I'm not too worried about him."
Mauer entered the contest batting just .118 (2 for 17) with one RBI in the previous five games.
Joe Mauer slowing down at the plate
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/26/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer had his fourth hitless performance in his last five games Friday against the Rangers, giving him a .333/.409/.474 line in 88 plate appearances. Mauer was hitting .393/.439/.574 on April 20 but has just two hits in 17 at-bats his last five games.
Joe Mauer's streak reaches double digits
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer extended his hitting streak to 10 games Saturday against the White Sox with his third-straight multi-hit performance. He went 2 for 4 and walked twice in the 2-1 win. Both of his hits were singles.
Mauer is batting .465 (20 for 43) during his streak with two homers and seven RBI.
Eight hits in last two games for Joe Mauer
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer recorded his second consecutive four-hit game with three RBI Tuesday night against the Angels. Mauer went 4 for 5 with four singles and has gone 8 for 10 in his last two with a double, home run and six runs driven in.
Mauer, now batting .386 for Minnesota, has at least one base hit in nine consecutive games and is batting .462 over that span with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI. He's also in the top 10 in the American League in runs scored with 10.
Joe Mauer an extra-base machine
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who managed just one extra-base hit over his first seven games, has been an extra-base machine since.
Mauer, catching and batting second Monday against the Angels, went 4 for 5 with a double and a home run. He hit a solo shot to left in the fifth inning and added RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings for three RBI. Mauer, who also scored twice, is batting .346.
The backstop has recorded hits in eight straight games and has four doubles and two homers in his last five. He's driven in all four of his runs over that span.
Joe Mauer homers for first RBI
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer finally hit his first home run and drove in his first run eight games into his season Tuesday in Kansas City. Mauer got it out of the way early, taking starter Jeremy Guthrie deep in the first inning for a 364-foot solo shot.
The All-Star backstop finished the game 1 for 5 and is batting just .257 on the season. That said, he's gone 5 for 17 (.294) over a four-game hitting streak.
Joe Mauer keeps climbing club's hit list
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/8/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer continues to climb the Minnesota record books, reports MLB.com Monday. Mauer singled in the first inning Monday against Kansas City's Ervin Santana and that moved him past Gary Gaetti for sixth place on the club's all-time hit list.
Mauer, who recorded his 1,277th hit, entered the Kansas City series batting .231 through six games with one extra-base hit (double) and no RBI. He's struck out seven times.
Joe Mauer benefits from scoring change
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013)Joe Mauer received an extra hit without playing another game. A scoring change has given the Twins catcher another hit. The play was initially ruled an error.
Mauer's first at-bat of the season was credited as an error on Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, but has been overtuned. Mauer is now batting .375 through two games this season.
Joe Mauer gets on base three times
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Batting second for the Twins in the season opener Monday at home against the Tigers, catcher Joe Mauer got his season off to a solid start. Mauer picked up two hits in the loss.
The All-Star catcher could have started the game 3 for 3 had it not been for a soft ground ball ruled an error in the first inning. As it was, Mauer went 2 for 4 with a walk in the game as he reached base three times. He also scored a run for the Twins in the 4-2 loss. One of Mauer's hits was a double off Justin Verlander.
Mauer did not drive in any runs as rookie leadoff hitter Aaron Hicks went 0 for 4 in the game with three strikeouts.
Twins like 'ambush' approach atop lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said prior to Monday's season opener against the Tigers he likes the dynamic of having Aaron Hicks, Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham atop the team's lineup since it forces the opposing pitcher to face all three batters in the first inning.
"As Bruno (hitting coach Tom Brunansky) and I talked, we talked about 'ambush,'" Gardenhire said, per the Pioneer Press. "So we're going to ambush 'em at the top with all these hitters and go from there. At least for today. We can always adjust as we go along."
Brian Dozier, who spent most of the spring batting second, was moved to eighth in the lineup Monday.
Joe Mauer welcomes batting second
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire elaborated on his choice to bat catcher Joe Mauer second, prior to Monday's season opener vs. Detroit.
"As I told you guys, I wanted him to bat first, second and third, but I can only bat him in one place," Gardenhire said, per the Pioneer Press. "We chose second. ... More at-bats, all those types of things."
Mauer has appeared as the No. 2 hitter in 77 career games, batting .316 with a .512 slugging percentage. Mauer has no problem moving out of the No. 3 spot in the order.
"Just have to get ready one batter earlier," Mauer said. "Not really any changes. I told Gardy this: I don't have a problem wherever he puts me in the lineup as long as I'm in the lineup. Whatever gives us our best chance of scoring runs. Hopefully we get some runs today."
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said his opening day lineup will feature catcher Joe Mauer batting second behind speedster Aaron Hicks. The high on-base percentage guys will bat ahead of the sluggers in the Minnesota order.
Mauer, who hit .452 this spring over 31 at-bats with a homer, eight RBI and a .553 on-base percentage, has hit second in 77 games over the course of his career. He is a .316 career hitter in that spot with 11 homers over 291 at-bats. That said, his career OBP in the No. 2 hole is just .373.
Twins to carry two catchers
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) With the demotion of Drew Butera to Triple-A Rochester Monday, the Twins are going to open the season with two catchers on the roster -- Joe Mauer and Ryan Doumit.
"We're going to go with two catchers, and that's about as simple as I can put it," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said, per MLB.com. "We're looking for a little more thump off our bench. And unfortunately, [Butera] got into that squeeze. He'll be back."
Joe Mauer regains momentum with Twins
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Twins catcher Joe Mauer finished 2 for 3 with six RBI during Minnesota's 14-5 rout of Toronto in a Grapefruit League matchup Sunday. Mauer belted a three-run homer and three-run double -- both his first of the spring -- to help raise his batting average to .400 during the spring. In three games since returning from the World Baseball Classic last week, Mauer has gone 4 for 9 with two runs scored.
Mauer to catch more games
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (1/27/2013) MLB.com reports Twins general manager Terry Ryan said it's possible catcher Joe Mauer could catch as many 125 games in 2013. Mauer caught only 74 games in 2012, but he played in a career-high 147 games. "I think I'll probably do more catching," Mauer said Saturday. "A lot of the reason I went over to first base, especially early in the season, is we really didn't know what [Justin] Morneau's situation was. That's the way I've been preparing for the season, to be the everyday catcher. I can go over to first if they need me to do that. I can DH if they need me to do that too. But the way I've been preparing is catching every day." Mauer said he's currently injury free and is past the knee issues that plagued him in 2011. "It's been a nice, normal offseason," Mauer said. "The last couple years have been concentrated on specific work or a sickness or stuff like that. It's nice to get after it."
