MINNEAPOLIS - Just when Joe Mauer restored his smooth swing, it brought more trouble by triggering his latest injury. This frustrating season for Minnesotas catcher-turned-first baseman worsened Wednesday, when Mauer woke up with more discomfort than he had the night before from a strained muscle on his right side and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. "Its been a very trying year for me personally," Mauer said. "I get things going and something happens, but thats baseball. ... This is another thing that Ive got to work through, and hopefully it doesnt take too long and I get back out there soon." Mauer was hurt swinging on his two-run double in the fourth inning Tuesday that stretched his hitting streak to 12 straight games. He batted .320, his career average, with 13 RBIs over the last 19 games. But prior to his recent surge, the six-time All-Star and three-time American League batting title holder has been in his worst slump ever, his average dipping as low as .254 a couple of times last month. "Hes put in a lot of hard work here getting his swing where he wants it, and its been falling in for him, hes been driving in runs, and now we have this," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You know what? It is part of the game when you play every day. Youre going to have some of these things, and now we just have to let him heal." Mauer missed the last 39 games last year with concussion-like symptoms, prompting his position switch. He sat out almost a week earlier this season with a bad back. Knee and lower-body injuries hounded him at times in his career. His substandard production at the corner infield spot already put his All-Star selection in doubt, but this strained-oblique setback sealed the deal: Mauer wont play in the midsummer classic in his hometown. "Hes been an All-Star for quite a bit, and Im sure its something that he wouldve loved to have been a part of, but you know what? You get hurt, you get hurt," Gardenhire said. Though Mauer stayed in the game to run the bases, he said he knew right away the injury was serious. "Ive never been shot before, but it felt like I got shot," Mauer said. The Twins called up Chris Colabello from Triple-A Rochester to take his place on the roster. Colabello was hitting .275 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 36 games with the Red Wings. In 40 games with the Twins earlier this year, Colabello batted .232, but with 10 doubles, four home runs and 30 RBIs. So while Colabello hasnt played in a game for the Twins since May 23, he still has driven in more runs than Mauer, who has 28 RBIs in 76 games with 20 extra-base hits. Hes batting .271. Danny Duffy Jersey . Napoli hit two home runs, Jonny Gomes and prized rookie Xander Bogaerts also connected, and the Red Sox kept up their dizzying scoring spree at Yankee Stadium by bashing New York 13-9 Saturday for a fifth straight win. Lucas Duda Jersey . - The Kansas City Royals are hoping All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will be back in a few days. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-...ar-Kids-Jersey/. The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks. Justin Grimm Jersey . Yoenis Cespedes proved he can play through a hurting right heel, giving Scott Kazmir and the As a spark with a pair of RBIs that helped spoil the Minnesota Twins home opener with an 8-3 victory on Monday. George Brett Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Im sure youve received many emails wondering what your take is on the Spezza goal that looked like Neil blatantly kicked it in while standing directly in the middle of the crease where, you know, usually a goalie is to make a save but couldnt be due to Neil being there! Thanks! Jon - Westfield, MA Jon: Lets first ask Henrik Lundqvist what he thought of the scoring of the Sens second goal with .JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Wes Welker swears he doesnt dwell on his costly drop in the Super Bowl two years ago that could have sealed New Englands win over the New York Giants and made up for losing to them four years earlier. "You know what? I dont even think about it," Welker said as he prepared for his third Super Bowl, his first with the Denver Broncos. "The past is the past, what happened, happened, and Im just looking forward to this one and going out there and playing my best game and doing what I can to help my team win." Welker said getting to the big game and coming up short two times is what drives him. "I think its the reason I get up in the morning in the off-season and even now," he said after helping the Broncos beat his old team for the AFC title, securing a showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Welker tied a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions for 103 yards six years ago but the Patriots perfect season ended when Eli Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left to give the Giants a 17-14 win. The teams met again four years later in Indianapolis and Welker caught seven passes for 60 yards and ran twice for 21 more, but it was the catch he didnt make that haunts Patriots fans to this day. The Patriots led 17-15 with four minutes left and were on the Giants 44 when Tom Brady found Welker wide open 23 yards downfield. The pass, however, was high and slightly behind Welker, who got both hands on the ball but couldnt make the catch. The Giants got the ball back and drove for the winning touchdown. "Sure, I mean it motivates you during the off-season. It motivates you when youre working out, it motivates you through the year," Welker said.dddddddddddd "Just that feeling of losing that game, I mean its heartbreaking. It takes a few weeks just to get over it. It definitely sticks with you and motivates you for the future and definitely blessed to have this opportunity again." Welker joined Peyton Manning in Denver in the off-season after six seasons with Brady and was Denvers leading receiver until missing the final 3 1/2 games after sustaining his second concussion in a three-week span. He still ended up with 778 yards on 73 catches and a career-high 10 touchdowns. Wearing a bigger helmet to protect against further head injury, hes caught 10 passes for 76 yards and a TD in the playoffs. He had four catches for 38 yards against New England in the AFC Championship and his hard hit took out Patriots top cornerback Aqib Talib on a pick play at the line of scrimmage. The next day, Patriots coach Bill Belichick suggested Welker deliberately tried to hurt Talib and complained to the league about it. The NFL said no infraction had occurred. Welkers teammates said Belichick was just using Welker as a smoke screen and a scapegoat to hide deficiencies in his teams defence and the fact that Welkers replacement in New England, Danny Amendola, dropped the only pass thrown to him in the title game. Welker stayed above the fray, saying he was just happy to be back in the Super Bowl. "Im very blessed to have this opportunity again and thats all you really ask for," he said. "Its all you work for during the off-season is to get to this point and now you just want to finish it." 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