MLB: Minnesota 7, Kansas City 5
Justin Morneau's homer gave Minnesota the lead in the fifth Friday and Joe Mauer had a spectacular 2009 debut in boosting the Twins past Kansas City 7-5.
Mauer missed the Twins' first 22 games with inflammation in his lower back. In his return to action, he went 2-for-3 with a homer and scored three times to help Minnesota win its third in a row.
Morneau broke a 5-5 tie with a two-run homer and three Minnesota relievers held Kansas City scoreless over the final four frames.
Kevin Slowey (4-0) got the win despite allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings.
Joe Nathan collected his fourth save by working around a two-out single in the ninth.
Sidney Ponson (0-4) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3.
Mauer hit a solo homer in the first, scored on a Morneau single in the fourth and walked ahead of Morneau's fifth-inning homer.
UPI
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