MINNEAPOLIS -- Just when Joe Mauer was getting on a roll, pain forced an early exit. Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. Mauer extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a two-run double down the left-field line in the fourth inning, but was noticeably limping as he ran to second base. The team said he has a strained oblique muscle on his right side and will be evaluated Wednesday. "Ive been kind of battling this area for about a week or so, maybe a little more," Mauer said. "Ive been stiff and getting it loose and everythings been fine, but today on that one swing, ball down the line, it felt like somebody hit me pretty hard right there." Mauer missed almost a week earlier this year with a bad back and sat out the final 39 games last season with concussion-like symptoms. "Ive never had this happen before, so I hope its a lot sooner than what guys in the past have had," Mauer said. "Ive been feeling pretty good and getting some results, so its bad timing." Eric Hosmer had four hits for the Royals. Ricky Nolasco (5-6) earned his first win in five starts, allowing one run and eight hits in six innings. Minnesota signed Nolasco to a $49 million, four-year contract in the off-season, hoping he would help a rotation that had a major league-worst 5.26 ERA last year. Nolasco has struggled, however, posting a 5.49 ERA. He pitched more than six innings just once in his past 11 starts. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before the game that Nolasco had a good bullpen session last weekend in hopes of improving his mechanics to get better command of his fastball to set up his breaking pitches. Nolasco was better Tuesday, but remained far from dominant. He gave up six hits in the first three innings before settling down and retiring the Royals in order in the fourth and sixth. "I didnt have too many quick innings, but it was just kind of battling and I made some pitches when I had to," Nolasco said. "(My fastball) was better. Just trying not to do too much. Its a step in the right direction." Kansas City starter James Shields (8-4) was hoping a new month would change his fortunes. It didnt. In his shortest outing of the season, Shields allowed nine hits and five runs -- four earned -- in five innings. Although he struck out five, he was constantly behind in the count, leading to a 113-pitch outing. It was his first loss since May 2, a span of 10 starts in which he had five wins and five no-decisions. The right-hander has a 5.66 ERA in his past eight starts, and only twice has he allowed three or fewer runs. "I actually thought I made some pretty good pitches and they just found a lot of holes today," Shields said. "Its definitely frustrating that Im not getting outs. Im not getting my job done." Nunez homered and Sam Fuld had a two-run single as part of a five-run sixth inning for the Twins. Minnesota scored more than five runs for just the third time in 16 games. "We got some breaks," Gardenhire said. "They always say it evens out, so hopefully this is the start of it evening out." A miscue by the Royals gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the third. With Nunez on first, Chris Parmelee hit a popup to short left field with two outs. Mike Moustakas backpedaled from third base as left fielder Alex Gordon was coming in. The two nearly collided and the ball bounced off Gordons glove to put runners on second and third. Kendrys Morales drove in Nunez with an infield single. "I think Gordy just thought that he wasnt going to get there, then at the last second realized he had a chance to get there and they both get there at the same time," Royals manager Ned Yost said. An RBI double by Parmelee scored Nunez in the first, but an RBI single by Moustakas evened the score in the second. NOTES: Minnesotas Brian Dozier, who has started 79 of 82 games at second base, got the night off. He is in a 1-for-24 slump, and Gardenhire said he could sense some frustration. ... Raul Ibanez started in right field for Kansas City and went 1 for 4. The 42-year-old was signed Monday after being released by the Angels on June 21. ... Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe hit his career-high 23rd double. ... Twins RHP Kevin Correia (4-9, 5.08 ERA) faces LHP Jason Verges (7-3, 3.53) in Wednesday afternoons series finale. Wholesale Custom Jerseys .com) - Tonight will go a long way in determining the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. Custom Jerseys Cheap .com) - The disappointing Ottawa Senators hope to record consecutive wins for the first time since early November, as they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home series. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com/. TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. Custom Jerseys Adidas . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings (3) - Early goal against was on the power play. Custom Jerseys China .com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday.ORLANDO, Fla. - The Rockets have worked hard this preseason to build a gritty identity.If their finish against the Magic is any indication, theyve made a lot of progress. Jeff Adriens free throw with 35 seconds to play capped Houstons rally Wednesday night, with the Rockets beating Orlando 90-89 in preseason play.Troy Daniels and Isaiah Canaan led the Rockets with 14 points each and Tarik Black added 10 points.The Rockets (5-2) showed fatigue early, committing nine fouls in the first 11 minutes of the game. Adriens late free throw made up for a flagrant foul he committed earlier in the fourth, when he pulled down Orlandos Dewayne Dedmon by the jersey on a shot attempt.Ive got plenty of fouls to give — Im going to use them all. Its just being aggressive, Adrien said. I cant really be mad at myself for anything, Im an aggressive player and this team needs aggressitivity.Houston trailed by 13 entering the fourth quarter and didnt take its first lead of the second half until just over two minutes left in the game.Nik Vucevic led the Magic with 12 points and six rebounds. Orlando (4-3) tied it at 89 with less than a minute to play and tried to overcome the free throw, but Willie Greens jumper bounced off the rim at the buzzer.Houston coach Kevin McHale took it easy on his projected regular-season starters, resting centre Dwight Howard and limiting the minutes of others. James Harden tried to pick up the slack as best he could with nine first-half points in 18 minutes before taking a seat the rest of the way.The late effort by Houstons reserves killed what was otherwise a celebration of sorts for Vucevic. The Magic have until the end of the month to extend Vucevics rookie contract, but the fourth-year big man said Wednesday that his representatives are in thhe process of finalizing what is expected to be a four-year extension.ddddddddddddI think overall, you take this whole scope and scheme of who he is as an individual, and Im pretty proud that hes wearing an Orlando Magic uniform, Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said.___TIP-INSThe Rockets: Howard had the night off after he played 28 minutes Tuesday night at Miami. He has appeared in just three of the Rockets preseason games after being slowed by an issue with his left knee.The Magic: Channing Frye (sprained left MCL) and Victor Oladipo (sprained right MCL) did not play. The team hasnt given a timetable for their return, and said Frye and Oladipo are being evaluated daily. It is unclear whether they will be available for the Oct. 28 regular-season opener at New Orleans.MAGICAL MEMORIESHoward said the he looks back fondly at his eight seasons in a Magic jersey — even if he doesnt recognize the new faces on the bench. I grew up here in Orlando. Had a lot of great memories, no matter how it ended, Howard said before the game. Looking at the team now, theres nobody left. (Jameer Nelson was) the last of the Mohicans, but I was happy with my time here. I see the progress with this team, where theyre trying to go.WILDCATS REUNIONMagic rookie forward Aaron Gordon and Rockets rookie guard Nick Johnson, who were teammates last season at the University of Arizona, met for the second time as pros Wednesday night. Their first meeting came during summer league.CELEBRITY WATCHPGA golfer Bubba Watson, an Orlando resident, sat courtside Wednesday night.UP NEXTHouston hosts San Antonio on Friday in its final preseason game.Orlando finishes the preseason Friday night at home against Dallas.___Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '