After getting through the first month of the season without their best hitter, the Minnesota Twins have to be happy now that Joe Mauer is back. 

Joe Mauer brought a big smile back to the dugout after hitting a home run in his first at-bat, and his teammates were just as quick to needle him about his exceptional talent. 

Joe Mauer jogged a lap around the bases at the end of his batting practice session, and grinning teammate Justin Morneau was there at third base to jokingly wave him home. 

Minnesota Twins third baseman Joe Crede will be away from the team this weekend after the birth of his daughter. 

Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been activated from the disabled list after missing the first month of the season with a back injury. 

Despite being without a key member of their team, the Minnesota Twins wrapped up a difficult first month of the season with a . 

Minnesota finished up a five-game road trip with a 2-3 record. 

Minnesota finished up a five-game road trip with a 2-3 record. 

It will almost feel like opening day in the Metrodome on Friday, because the Twins will be whole for the first time. 

--RHP Luis Ayala finished Wednesday's 8-3 victory over Tampa Bay by allowing a ninth-inning run, breaking his streak of four scoreless appearances. 

The dish 

Despite being without a key member of their team, the Minnesota Twins wrapped up a difficult first month of the season with a . 

John Pomarico singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to push Major League Screen Printing by B&A Jewelers 3-2 in a Staten Island LL Major contest. 

The Minnesota Twins have been treading water through the first month of the season, doing everything they can to keep pace with their AL Central rivals while Joe Mauer recovered from a mysterious back injury. 

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