A.J. Hinch got from the Houston Astros also came with a huge set of expectations.“When I hired A.J. http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , at the press conference, I said, ‘A.J.’s going to be our manager when we win the first World Series for Houston,'” general manager Jeff Luhnow said Thursday.“I’m now telling you that A.J. is going to be the manager when we win the second and hopefully the third World Series for Houston,” he said.The reigning champion Astros — and current AL West leaders — rewarded Hinch with a deal that extends his run in the dugout through the 2022 season. His contract had been set to expire after this year with a club option for 2019.Astros stars Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer and Alex Bregman were among the players who attended the announcement at Minute Maid Park. The group sat toward the back of the room and Hinch made sure to thank them.“I wouldn’t be here and I certainly wouldn’t be getting this opportunity if it wasn’t for you,” Hinch said. “This game is about players it will always be about players and to be your manager is by far the best job I’ve ever had in baseball.”The 44-year-old Hinch guided Houston to its first crown last season. He took over in 2015 and has led the Astros to a regular-season record of 353-266 and two playoff appearances.“To be the manager of the Houston Astros means the world to me and it has since the day Jeff and Jim hired me to be here,” Hinch said. “That goes to the business ops people, baseball ops people Shelby Miller Jersey , the people behind the scenes, the clubhouse personnel, the training staff and ultimately the players I am fortunate enough to lead.”“Who wouldn’t sign up to be the manager of the Houston Astros?” he said.The Astros led the AL West by 2 1/2 games over Oakland going into Thursday night’s home game against the Angels.“I’m not going to let these two down,” Hinch said, referring to Luhnow and Astros owner Jim Crane.The former major league catcher previously managed the Arizona Diamondbacks.Luhnow says Hinch “is aligned with the vision of our front office, has made a great connection with our players, and has earned the respect of everyone in the clubhouse.”Said Bregman: “He believes in his players and he trusts his players. Those are two things that are really the most important.” MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Twins lost two more teammates to trades before the game.They finished the night, at least, in a better mood.Mitch Garver drove in the winning run with a one-out double in the ninth inning, capping a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night and triggering the familiar bucket-dumping celebration in the infield after he rounded second base.The Twins had more cold water poured on their disappointing season in the afternoon Chris Owings Jersey , when reliever Zach Duke and starter Lance Lynn were sent away in separate deals for more minor leaguers.”That was a big win for us as a group, as a group of brothers,” Garver said. ”We lost some key guys to our team this year, and to come back and kind of put that one away and finish that game like is pretty exciting for us.”Jose Ramirez hit two home runs for Cleveland to match Boston’s J.D. Martinez for the most in the majors with 32, but the Indians fell to 3-7 against the Twins this season. The Twins still trail by eight games in the AL Central, not nearly close enough for the front office to halt the sell-off two-thirds of the way through this disappointing season. Eduardo Escobar, who thrived at third base while Miguel Sano was out, and reliever Ryan Pressly were dealt for prospects on Friday.”It’s really good way to start the series, especially with all the tumultuous things that have been going on,” manager Paul Molitor said.Sano http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , who hit an RBI single earlier and went 2 for 3 for his first hits in the majors since June 12, drew a walk to start the ninth against Neil Ramirez (0-1). Jake Cave advanced pinch-runner Ehire Adrianza with a sacrifice bunt. Then Garver delivered the deep drive to left-center field.Fernando Rodney (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out Yonder Alonso with runners at second and third. He struck out Ramirez two batters before that.Twins starter Ervin Santana got one out in the sixth before being removed, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks, and gave up both of Ramirez’s homers before another solo shot by Yan Gomes that gave the Indians a 3-2 lead in the fifth.Jorge Polanco’s two-run single in the bottom of that inning against Shane Bieber put the Twins in front, but Santana lost the lead again when Cave made an ill-advised dive for a sinking line drive by Alonso to center field. That went for an RBI double to score Edwin Encarnacion from first base with one out.HOLD TIGHTBieber allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, a sharp improvement from the seven runs in 1 2/3 innings he gave up to Pittsburgh last week.”I felt more like myself tonight,” Bieber said.SLUMP? NOT SO MUCHRamirez hit his 31st homer on a full count in the first inning against Santana Curt Schilling Jersey , a no-doubt drive to right field that stopped a hitless stretch of 17 at-bats. Ramirez had 11 walks during those seven-plus games.”Sometimes the pitchers are throwing you a lot of strikes. Sometimes they’re throwing balls. So I just stay focused on trying to get my pitches and, yeah, I feel normal,” Ramirez said through a translator.TRADE ADJUSTMENTSThe Twins announced Adalberto Mejia will start on Wednesday afternoon, taking Lynn’s place in the rotation. Duke’s departure opened a spot in the bullpen for Addison Reed, who was returned from his rehab assignment.TRAINER’S ROOMIndians: OF Greg Allen was called up from Triple-A Columbus before the game, and RHP Adam Plutko was sent down. With Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin and Bradley Zimmer all out with injuries, Allen will help fortify the unsettled CF and RF spots with Rajai Davis, Brandon Guyer and Melky Cabrera.Twins: Sano http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , who missed a month with hamstring trouble and after struggling upon his return was sent to the minor leagues for what turned out to be a six-week stay for conditioning and refining his swing, went 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in his first two games back over the weekend.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Trevor Bauer (9-6, 2.32 ERA) will pitch on Tuesday night. The All-Star kept up his career-best season against Pittsburgh last week by striking out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings while surrendering only two hits.Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (5-7, 3.42), who held MLB batting leader Boston to one run on four hits over eight innings last week, will take the mound for the middle game of the series.—