MINNEAPOLIS -- After Yasiel Puig carried the Dodgers early, it was little-known Scott Van Slyke and Drew Butera who came up big at the end of a long day. Van Slyke and Butera homered in the 12th inning and Los Angeles held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 to earn a sweep of the day-night doubleheader on Thursday. Adrian Gonzalez also homered for the Dodgers, who stranded 16 runners in the 5-hour, 11-minute game. "At this time of the night, when youve played all night and youve put a couple wins under your belt, youre willing to take them, move forward and know that you got to play better to get where you want to go," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. Puig tied a career high with four hits in Los Angeles 9-4 Game 1 win and added two more in the nightcap. Before grounding out in the fifth, Puig had reached base in nine consecutive plate appearances. Joe Mauer had three hits for the Twins, who walked 12 in the second game and 18 total. Van Slyke led off the 12th and lined a 2-1 pitch from Brian Duensing (0-1) into the bullpen in left-centre field. Butera hit his first homer since July 12, 2012, when he played for the Twins. "It feels nice to hit a home run any time," said Butera, who caught all 12 innings and still had enough in the tank to hit the winning homer. "Its mentally and physically taxing," he continued. "You dont want to make any mistakes. You want to be in the game physically as much as you are mentally." Jamey Wright (2-1) didnt allow a run in three innings of relief. Kenley Jansen loaded the bases in the 12th and allowed Mauers sacrifice fly, but got Chris Colabello to line out to first for his 11th save in 13 chances. "I didnt know if it was going to take off," Colabello said. "It was pretty true. I didnt really side-spin it at all, maybe hoping that it was going to get over his head or get a deflection, or something like that." Juan Uribe had four hits and two RBIs in the first game and another RBI in the second. When Puig wasnt getting hits, he still grabbed the spotlight. The Cuban outfielder was tagged out when he flinched toward second after beating out an infield single in his first at-bat in Game 2. In the bottom of the first, Puig airmailed the cutoff man on a sacrifice fly, allowing two Twins runners to advance. Home plate umpire Tim Timmons missed a catchers interference call when Puig fouled off the first pitch during a key at-bat in the sixth. But by the time Van Slyke homered, Puigs play from earlier in the day seemed like ancient history. "Scottys a different cat. Hes hard to read from the outside," Mattingly said. "You see a guy thats kind of laid back and kind of easy moving. Everything looks like its in slow-mo. But hes a guy that sees pitching and knows what hes doing at the plate." Los Angeles left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh, with the threat in the seventh ending after second-baseman Brian Dozier dove to snare a line drive from Dee Gordon. Neither teams inexperienced starter, both called up to start under a provision that allows rosters to expand to 26 for a doubleheader, finished the fifth inning. Minnesotas Kris Johnson lasted 4 1-3 innings in his Twins debut. Wearing his powder-blue socks high and a pink band around his head to keep his glasses on, Red Patterson was removed after allowing one run and walking three over 4 2-3 innings. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Trevor Plouffe reached second on Uribes throwing error and came home on another throwing error when reliever Brandon League rushed to try and retire Colabello on a dribbler to the mound. The Dodgers tied it when Van Slyke led off the sixth with a triple and scored on Uribes single. Minnesota centre-fielder Aaron Hicks banged his head on the wall leaping to try and catch Van Slykes triple and left the game with concussion-like symptoms. The pitching wasnt great in Game 1, but it was much better than the never-ending night game. Dan Haren (4-0) struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings to win the first game. Mike Pelfrey (0-3), who hasnt won at Target Field since April 16, 2013, gave up five runs and seven hits and walked three in four innings for the Twins. If Pelfrey doesnt pitch better soon, he could wind up in the bullpen. "Weve got to do something about it, we have to fix it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Were trying to get him on the right path." Both teams combined to use 20 pitchers. NOTES: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, on the disabled list since after his first start of the season with strained shoulder, threw 86 pitches and allowed two runs in five innings in a start for Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday night and appears in line to rejoin the rotation early next week. ... Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 6.67 ERA) starts for the Twins Friday against Baltimore and Ubaldo Jimenez (0-4, 6.59) in the first game of a three-game series. ... The Dodgers continue their nine-game road trip Friday in Miami as Josh Beckett (0-0, 2.45) faces Tom Koehler (2-2, 2.97). Jake Butt Jersey .Ryan Anderson had 14 points for the Pelicans, who trailed 78-63 after three periods before trimming the deficit to 86-83. Jrue Holiday had 13 points and Eric Gordon added 12 for New Orleans.Mike Scott and Jeff Teague each had 11 points for Atlanta. Darian Stewart Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. http://www.officialdenverbroncosfootball.com/authentic-max-garcia-jersey-womens . -- The Florida Gators are first yet again this season. Gary Zimmerman Jersey . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Royce Freeman Jersey . LOUIS -- The St.It will go down as a landmark moment for Major League Soccer. Toronto FC has signed Italian International attacking midfielder/striker Sebastian Giovinco. The marquee signing was officially announced on Monday. Sources say Giovinco, 27, will join Toronto FC on a four-year contract worth $7 million USD annually. It is expected Giovinco will stay with Juventus in Italy until July, although the exact timing of his move has not been confirmed. It is believed that a multi-million dollar transfer fee will be paid for the player. Giovinco has represented Italy 21 times, featuring most recently in a 1-0 win over Albania on November 18. The 55 attacking player, known as the Atomic Ant, has impressive footwork, superior work-rate and genuine talent to star in MLS. Giovinco is a play-maker and natural set-piece taker, scoring one of his two goals last week off a free kick in a 6-1 Juventus win over Verona to advance to quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. Opportunities have been rare this season under manager Massimiliano Allegri, starting only two games. Giovincos desire to feature made it clear his future lay elsewhere with his contract up in the summer. A number of European teams were rumoured to be after Giovinco; a target for many in the January transfer window. He is a player who has excelled when given the chance. Giovinco scored a team best 15 goals and added 11 assists in 2011-12 while on loan at Parma. His signature is an absolute coup for Toronto, reportedly beating the likes of Monaco and a number of Serie A and Premier League teams in the chase. Giovincos agent spent some time in Toronto and was impressed by the city and set-up. It is believed the North American adventure is something Giovinco craved and the opportunity to become a star in MLS beckons. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment were confident in recent days an agreement was reached between club and player, with the signing not official until the last 48 hours. The franchise believes they have done due diligence with the player, educating the newcomer on the significant travel and nuances of MLS that make it difficult for some to adapt. Giovinco is said to undaunted by the challenge and excited by the move. The spotlight he covets and the ability to shine are there for the taking. The signing of Giovinco is cuulmination of weeks of work for Toronto FC.dddddddddddd. The plan was always to replace the out-going Jermain Defoe with two players of significance. Toronto FC has done just that this week with the arrival of US National team striker Jozy Altidore Friday, and now Giovinco. Toronto FC has gone above and beyond in establishing a new core for the present and the future. MLS has always been a league reliant on attracting marquee names in the twilight of their careers. A player like Giovinco is exactly what MLS had in mind in allowing Designated Players; attacking players in their prime, appealing to both the casual and devoted soccer fan. The move screams credibility. MLS is said to be very happy with Toronto FCs capture. The move for Toronto FC is another statement of intent. The pomp and circumstance of previous big name transfers will not come with this; rather the focus should be on substance. Toronto FC now has a core of three Designated Players in Giovinco, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore all in their 20s (27, 27, 25). This core is capable of staying together for the foreseeable future, establishing the kind of consistency Toronto FC has desperately lacked. MLSE firmly believes in soccer as a growth property, with a $105 million dollar stadium expansion further evidence to the upside. Toronto FCs squad will continue to take shape in the coming days. The biggest question mark is what happens with Gilberto. The acquisition of Giovinco means Toronto FC will have four Designated Players on the books; only three are allowed in MLS. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement is being negotiated at present time. There has been little indication that adding a fourth Designated Player is priority. If the idea is tabled in negotiations, it makes sense for Toronto FC would support such an initiative. It is believed Toronto FC still thinks highly of the Brazilian striker. The chance to add Altidore and Giovinco were opportunities too good to pass up on. Its consensus across MLS there would be a trade market for Gilberto. The 25-year-old improved as the season wore on, scoring seven goals in 28 MLS appearances. MLS requires Gilberto to be off Torontos roster before the first game of the season. 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