MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer isn’t sure if Sunday marked the end of his time with the Minnesota Twins. Just in case http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-j.-t.-realmuto-jersey , though, the regular season finale turned into a farewell befitting his remarkable career with his hometown team.Mauer doubled in his final at-bat, received one more pitch as catcher, and then walked off to an extended ovation as Minnesota likely said goodbye to the longtime face of its franchise during an emotional 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.The 35-year-old Mauer was playing the final game of an eight-year, $184 million contract. So far, he’s been noncommittal regarding his plans for next year and beyond.“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said. “I want to make sure I have some time just to take a deep breath and really be behind that decision.”There certainly were plenty of touches that made Sunday’s game feel like a final appearance, none more dramatic than Mauer’s surprise appearance behind the plate in the ninth.Mauer emerged from the dugout in his catching gear, the first time he’d worn it since late 2013, when a series of concussions forced him to move to first base. He stood alone at home plate as fans, teammates and opponents showered him with applause.The 2009 AL MVP caught one pitch from Matt Belisle. Then, with the theme music from “The Natural” playing over the speakers, he walked off to a final standing ovation and was replaced by Chris Gimenez.“We had an opportunity to do that, and I didn’t think that was going to be a possibility ever,” Mauer said. “I’m glad I took that opportunity.”Twins manager Paul Molitor said he’d worked out the logistics of the moment with White Sox manager Rick Renteria before the game.“Rick was fantastic. I told him I didn’t want to disrespect the game or the integrity of winning or losing,” Molitor said. “(I said) it would be a one-pitch scenario and we assured him that we would try to throw a ball as best as we could. And it worked out.”White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada was the batter at the time and said he was more than happy to do his part.“When I went to home plate, he said, ‘Hey Brian Anderson Jersey , can you take the first pitch?'” Moncada said. “It was very exciting, and an emotional moment. I was just glad to be part of that.”Mauer is a three-time AL batting champ and six-time All-Star over 15 major league seasons, all with Minnesota. A three-sport star from St. Paul’s Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Mauer was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft and made his debut with the Twins in 2004.Even his final plate appearance was classic Mauer. He sent a line drive into the left-center gap off Juan Minaya, then hustled to second, sliding in just ahead of left fielder Nicky Delmonico’s throw.When asked if he thought about playing it safe to avoid getting thrown out in potentially his last at-bat, Mauer shrugged and said, “That’s just how I play the game. I saw that (Delmonico) was moving a little to his left, and in a one-run game I’m going to try to get into scoring position. You’ve got to keep playing the game.”Max Kepler and Jake Cave homered for the Twins, and reliever Andrew Vasquez (1-0) earned his first major league victory with one perfect inning of relief. Trevor May replaced Belisle and got three straight outs with the tying run on second in the ninth to earn his third save.Dylan Covey (5-14) gave up five runs over six innings.MAUER MOMENTSThe day was filled with memorable moments for Mauer, who started at first base and batted leadoff. For Sunday home games, each Twins player is joined at his position by a young fan for the national anthem. On Sunday, Mauer’s 5-year-old twin daughters, Emily and Maren, surprised him by running out to meet him at first base.“I thought I had it going pretty good, holding it together, and then my two girls ran out on the field and I lost it there for a moment.The crowd of 30,144 gave Mauer an extended standing ovation before his first at-bat. He then shook hands with umpire Jim Reynolds and White Sox catcher Wellington Castillo before facing Covey.BY THE NUMBERSIf Mauer retires after this season http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-miguel-rojas-jersey , he will finish second in Twins history in games played, third in runs scored, second in hits, first in doubles, and second in walks. He broke the Twins’ career record for times on base earlier in the homestand.UNHAPPY ENDINGSThe White Sox lost their 100th game of the year, the first time they’ve done so since 1970.“As far as the numbers, they are what they are,” Renteria said. “I think I have to reflect on how we got to that point and some of the things we have to do to correct it, and move on.”Meanwhile, the Twins won their sixth straight game to end the season, giving them 78 victories — seven fewer than last year, when they were the AL’s second wild card.But Molitor clearly feels bullish about the team’s chances to return to the playoffs in 2019. When asked if the organization would give Mauer another memorable departure if he returned to play next year, the Twins manager replied, “Next year at this time, we’ll be planning for our next game, so I don’t think the situation will be the same.”WHIFF WATCHMoncada struck out once, giving him a major league-leading 217. That’s just six behind the record of 223, set by Mark Reynolds of the Rockies in 2009.IN THE STANDSThe Twins announced an official home attendance of 1 Bryan Holaday Jersey ,959,197, which included two “home” games played in Puerto Rico in April. That total is their lowest since 2004, when they still played at the Metrodome. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Another solid outing from Mike Fiers and Jed Lowrie’s 100th career home run helped the surging Oakland Athletics move a step closer to first place in the AL West.The Seattle Mariners, who were eight games ahead of Oakland six weeks weeks ago, are just trying to stick around in the wild-card race, a task that got a little tougher following an injury to ace James Paxton’s pitching arm.Jed Lowrie hit a two-run homer after his line drive knocked Paxton out of the game in the first inning, and Oakland beat Seattle 3-2 on Tuesday night to move within one game of the slumping Houston Astros.Fiers (8-6) gave up two runs on six hits in six innings with five strikeouts in his second start since being acquired in a trade from Detroit.Oakland won its fourth straight and improved to 17-6 since the All-Star break. The Astros have been in first since June 14 and led by as many as six games in late July, while the A’s haven’t had a share of first place this late in a season since Aug. 25, 2014.“We feel good,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve got some confidence, obviously, because of the stretch. But I don’t think anybody’s thinking about that right now. We’re just trying to win.”It got a bit easier after Paxton’s early exit. He allowed a home run to Marcus Semien and struck out Matt Chapman before Lowrie lined a 2-1 pitch up the middle that hit the left-hander.“It got all muscle,” Paxton said. “It’s just swollen right now. It tightened up right away. By the time I walked off the mound it was starting to puff up.”Mariners manager Scott Servais said Paxton will miss at least one start.“We’ll know more in the next coming days and how the swelling is,” Servais said. “It’s unfortunate, but looking on the bright side, we probably got a little lucky. It could have been a lot Brad Ziegler Jersey , lot worse.”Felix Hernandez replaced Paxton in the first relief appearance of his career after 398 starts. The former Cy Young Award winner, who has struggled all year and was demoted to the bullpen last week, allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.“It was weird,” Hernandez said. “I just grabbed the ball and tried to throw as many pitches as I could, trying to get loose. I know my body, I know my arm. I was ready to go.”Hernandez’s stay in the bullpen might not last long. He’s expected to take Paxton’s turn in the rotation until the left-hander returns.“Paxton has been a horse for us all year. He’s had a great season,” Servais said. “But there’s nothing you can do. It was a comebacker that was hit really hard. I knew right away when I went out there it wasn’t going to be good.”Robinson Cano returned to Seattle’s lineup after serving an 80-game suspension for using a diuretic that can mask performance-enhancing drugs. The eight-time All-Star batted second and played first base, going 1 for 4.Four Oakland relievers combined to pitch three scoreless innings. Blake Treinen worked the ninth for his 32nd save in 36 opportunities.Hernandez (8-11) walked Khris Davis but pitched out of the jam in the first. He ran into trouble in the third after a two-out walk to Chapman. Lowrie followed with his 19th homer this season.“It was a pretty good curveball. I think he was sitting on it,” Hernandez said. “I just have to attack the hitters, attack the strike zone and make good pitches.”Cameron Maybin homered for Seattle.ODDS AND ENDSThe A’s are 38-12 since June 16, their best 50-game stretch since 2005. … Semien’s leadoff homer was the second of his career. The other came Sept. 26, 2017 and was also off Paxton. … Maybin has a nine-game hitting streak.TRAINER’S ROOMMariners: 2B Dee Gordon was back in the lineup after sitting out the series opener with a bruised right shoulder he suffered sliding into a base in Houston on Sunday.UP NEXTSeattle RHP Mike Leake (8-7, 4.11 ERA) seeks his first win in three starts against Oakland this season. Leake has five consecutive quality starts. LHP Brett Anderson (2-3, 4.53) is 2-1 since coming off the disabled list.