MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time this season, the Minnesota Twins do not have the worst record in the American League.Fueled by a 21-13 stretch since July 1, including a 3-1 win in the opener of a four-game series against the Houston Astros on Monday, the Twins passed the Tampa Bay Rays and moved out of the A.L. cellar.Minnesota, which has won seven of its last nine overall, will try and keep that momentum going on Tuesday when it continues its series with the Astros.August 8th, we passed somebody. How long has it been? Twins manager Paul Molitor joked on Monday. Its been a long time.Despite a lost season, Molitor said players try and accentuate the positives like on Monday, when they moved up in the standings.I would think that these guys are aware of those things, Molitor said. Were enjoying what were doing right now, guys are having fun, a lot of joking going around which is good as long as the focus is where it needs to be.On the flip side, the Astros will try and get back on track before their fading postseason hopes are gone for good.Houston has lost six of its last seven games and nine of 11 overall, dropping to third place in the American League West.We didnt play well enough to win (on Monday) and its been troublesome for a couple of weeks now, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. You gotta play better to win.The Astros mustered just four hits in Mondays loss and Carlos Gomez made a pair of defensive miscues in the fifth inning that accounted for two of Minnesotas three runs.Gomez also went 0-for-3 at the plate, including a double play, dropping his average to .210 on the season.Ill take a look at it and see how it goes, Hinch said when asked if he can continue to play Gomez. struggling through a tough season. You keep trying to hang in there with guys, you want to encourage them more than anything. Clearly its been a rough patch for him for a while.Hinch will send right-hander Mike Fiers to the mound to try and get the club going. Fiers struggled to open the season but has been better of late, posting a 3.56 ERA in 11 starts since June 1. He has had a quality start each of his last three times out, including a six-inning, two-run outing against Toronto on Thursday.Fiers allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk in a no-decision against the Twins on May 4 at Minute Maid Park.Houston will see a familiar face on Tuesday when the Twins send Hector Santiago to the mound to make his home debut. Santiago, acquired from the Angels on Aug. 1 in exchange for Ricky Nolasco and a prospect, allowed four runs on five hits and a pair of walks in five innings in Cleveland in his first game with the Twins on Thursday.The left-hander allowed one run on three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings against the Astros when he played for the Angels on June 21 and has a 3.69 ERA in 10 career starts against Houston. Reggie Jackson Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Kendall Graveman Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.cheapathleticsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-khris-davis-jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Jose Canseco Jersey . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Matt Joyce Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.VANCOUVER -- The good times kept rolling Monday for Camilo and the rest of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Camilo was named to the MLS All-Star team that will meet Italys AS Roma on July 31 in Kansas City. The 24-year-old Brazilian striker earned his first MLS all-star game selection. Peter Vermes, the MLS all-star squads coach, chose Camilo, who struggled to get into Vancouvers lineup earlier this season, among players who rounded out the roster after fan voting. Camilo refused to take sole credit for his selection. "Its very important, but not just for me," said Camilo after a practice at the University of British Columbia on Monday. "It just means the club is playing very well. The team is playing good soccer, and its very important." Camilo, who is in his third season with the Whitecaps and leads the league in scoring with 12 goals, was also named MLS player of the week for the second time this season. The honours came a day after he scored two goals in Vancouvers 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. He has scored nine goals in his past seven games and helped the Whitecaps move from also-ran status into third place in the Western Conference. The Whitecaps are also the only MLS club that is unbeaten at home, sporting a 7-0-3 mark at B.C. Place Stadium. Camilo said he has been able to shine because the Whitecaps have placed more emphasis on the attack in recent weeks. "Thats why we score a lot of goals, because we are more free, we attack more (and) we have more chances," he said. Vancouver players have earned player-of-the-week honours in four of the past five weeks. Coach Martin Rennie said Camilo is just one of many Whitecaps who are excelling these days. "Weve got a lot of players in good form," said Rennie. "But, certainly, Camilos in great goal-scoring form at the moment." Rennie attributed Camilos success to better fitness after he was hampered by a thigh injury much of last season, a more defined role, and opportunities to play with fellow striker Kenny Miller upon his return from injury. "(Camilo) has rewarded us all with his performances and his goals," said Rennie. "When players are scoring (consistently), that makes such a difference to the team." Camilo has now surpassed the career-high 10 goals he scored as a rookie in 2011 and the seven markers he produced in 2012. Goalkeeper Brad Knightonn called Camilos all-star game selection "fantastic, not only for him but for the club.dddddddddddd" He suggested Camilo would have received a major snub if he had not been chosen. "The leading goal-scorer in the league, obviously, he deserves to be there. ... Hes been tremendous for us," said Knighton. "Hes been a huge catalyst to where we are right now." Meanwhile, Knighton apologized to teammates and fans for angrily leaving the pitch quickly Sunday after the Whitecaps surrendered a goal in the dying seconds of their win over Chicago. "Its frustrating for me, because you obviously want clean sheets, but wins are more important than clean sheets," said Knighton. "I want to apologize to our guys for storming off and leaving them on the field, and apologize to our fans because, obviously, we have a reputation. Our fans are our biggest supporters, and our organization is trying to be one of the best in the world, and to have stuff like that going on, its not good." Knighton vowed that such antics would never happen again. Rennie said it was good for him to take responsibility for his actions, but understood his frustration, adding no goalkeeper should be happy allowing a goal. Heading into next Saturdays game in Los Angeles, the Whitecaps are 7-0-3 in their past 10 games. Some players will spend this week attempting to get back in the lineup as they battle health woes. Midfielder Russell Teibert, who was forced to return early from international duty with Canadas Gold Cup squad early after coming down with an illness, took part in Mondays practice, which was optional for players who toiled against Chicago. Teibert went to hospital for tests, but did not stay over night, while with the Canadian team in Seattle. The 20-year-old Niagara Falls, Ont., native was sniffling after the workout with the Caps, but expected to be able to play against the Galaxy. "Im still a little bit sick, obviously, but I turned the corner," said Teibert. "Im getting better day by day." Note--Rennie said he hopes injured central defender Andy OBrien (hamstring) can resume full training this week. The coach did not rule him out of the game against the Galaxy. OBrien went through rehabilitation on the pitch Monday. ... Miller and Knighton were the other Whitecaps who have taken home MLS player of the week awards. ' ' '