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MINNEAPOLIS -- A.J. Pierzynski has long been the target of boos in Minnesota, where he made his major league debut nearly 18 years ago.Hardly noticed this time during a matchup of the majors worst teams, Atlantas ageless catcher turned in another solid performance.Lucas Harrell pitched six innings, Adonis Garcia homered and the Braves beat the Twins 2-0 on Tuesday night, an untimely meeting nearly 25 years after the Twins beat the Braves in a World Series often mentioned among the most dramatic in history.Pierzynski doubled and scored against the team that drafted him in the third round in 1994. Behind the plate, he helped guide Harrell (2-2) to his first scoreless start in the majors since June 9, 2013, with Houston.The 39-year-old Pierzynski also threw out the fleet-footed Byron Buxton trying to steal third base in the third inning, the first time Buxton was caught in eight attempts this season.Ive always liked it here. I said after the game it was kind of weird that they didnt boo me, said Pierzynski, who was a regular for three seasons for the Twins until being traded to San Francisco in 2003. Then again, I think no one in the stands remembered that I played here, it was so long ago. There were actually some claps, which was a little bit different.Harrell, making his fifth start this month but only his eighth in the majors since the end of the 2013 season, gave up four hits and walked three. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.38.I just went along with A.J.s plan and made pitches, and thats what it was all about tonight, Harrell said.The 1991 anniversary celebration was launched by Gene Larkin, who had the winning hit in the 10th inning of Game 7, throwing the ceremonial first pitch. Twins starter Ervin Santana, who logged his second complete game in his last four turns, was prepared to emulate Jack Morris, who pitched 10 innings in the famous Game 7.Sure, there was a little less on the line, but Santana (3-9) needed only 97 pitches for nine innings. Allowing seven hits, Santana struck out five without a walk. He lobbied manager Paul Molitor for a return if the Twins were able to tie the game in the ninth.He was like, `Yeah, you got it, Santana said.But Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in six attempts, completing a five-hitter that stopped the Braves five-game losing streak. The Twins went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven runners overall.We just squandered opportunities early and didnt muster late, Molitor said.TRADE TALKInterim general manager Rob Antony said hes not calling other teams to try to trade Santana, who is making $13.5 million this year and is signed through 2018. He went 14-10 for the Braves in 2014.If you trade him, you go into the offseason saying, `We really need another veteran. We need another guy we feel good about and are confident hes going to be able to give us a good outing every five days, Antony said before the game. Im not sure that guys going to be out there, and if he is theres going to be a lot of competition to get him.TRADE TALK, PART TWOHarrell could find himself on the move, too, with the Braves also playing out a lost season.I love Atlanta and the group of guys we have in here, he said. I think this team can build a winner again, and Id love to be here for that.The 31-year-old Harrell was signed as a minor league free agent May 21 after he began the season in Detroits organization.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Julio Teheran had his next turn in the rotation pushed back two days to Saturday as a precaution. Teheran left his previous start with tightness in his back, but he threw on the side Tuesday without trouble.Twins: 3B Trevor Plouffe, progressing through baseball-like activities in his recovery from a broken rib, will take live batting practice by the weekend and could begin a rehab assignment next week. He has been on the DL since July 4.UP NEXTThe Braves will send RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-4, 3.79 ERA) to the mound Wednesday in trying to sweep the two-game set. RHP Tyler Duffey (5-7, 5.71 ERA) will pitch for the Twins. Rashan Gary Packers Jersey . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Jace Sternberger Youth Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Jaire-Alexander-Jersey/ . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Bart Starr Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Clay Matthews Youth Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. NAPA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said the team would not bail on suspended linebacker Aldon Smith, who has reportedly entered an undisclosed rehab facility after a Periscope video on an account purportedly belonging to Smith surfaced last week of an unidentified man and woman showing a hand-rolled cigarette or blunt.Were going to support, our deal is to support Aldon from a standpoint of the person, McKenzie said Saturday at training camp. Whether he comes back to us or not, it has no bearing. We told him from Day 1, we care more about you than the player. So, whatever he does to ensure his health, were going to stand behind him.The Raiders could not say that Smith is in rehab because they cannot have contact with him while he is under league suspension.Smith is currently serving a yearlong ban handed down in November for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in September, 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension. The linebacker recently signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with no guaranteed money this offseason.We know his situation; its not that we have blinders, you know? McKenzie said. Going into last year, we knew the suspension was probable and it was going to be an uphill battle. Hes just going to have to fight the good fight, but were not going to bail on him. But, he has to do his part.McKenzie was speaking in the wake of his four-year contract extension, a move announced Friday night at a team alumni dinner by owner Mark Davis.I didnt want him to become a free agent, Davis told ESPN.com. It was time to honor him.Told of Davis comments, McKenzie smiled.Its a great feeling, McKenzie said. Any time people recognize the job that youre doing as good work, no matter what, its a sense of accomplishment.The guys that are in the building, all the guys that Im working with, they saw the plan. It wasnt going to be a quick fix, and Im not into quick fixes. Like I always said, theres a process and it works. It worked the way that we kind of planned. I still havent had a winning season, lets get things straight. But, we feel good about the direction its going. We feel good about the upcoming season and it starts with the players.McKenzie, who was hired in January of 2012 by Davis three months after the death of Al Davis, oversaw a rebuilding project that has seen the Raiders go 4-12, 4-12, 3-13 and 7-9 in the past four seasons. Many critics wondered if McKenziie was in over his head.ddddddddddddEven as Davis said all along the team had to be deconstructed before being reconstructed and patience was needed.One of the big things is it showed from ownership, from Mark Davis, he was committed to my plan, McKenzie said. A lot of credit goes to him. Im sure he had a lot of phone calls, a lot of people talking to him saying, Is Reggie the guy?McKenzie laughed.If youre into the quick, fast and hurry [solution], lets try to do this and that. It doesnt last long, he said. Were trying to get something that lasts. I want to be a consistent, good football team. Thats what were trying to build. We want to try to get on the other side of the .500 mark and just keep going.Our goal, ultimate goal from Day 1, we want to hold the trophy and theres a process to that. Its not a quick fix to it. And yeah, I had to dismantle the team; money played a big part of that. But, once we got it straight, we have a plan to try to keep it straight now. ... Mark being able to see what I envisioned, and he was right along with my plan [so] were in this thing together. Like I said, he rewarded me and said some good words, because hes been by my side. Thats for sure.McKenzie will have some work to do next offseason, when quarterback Derek Carr and All-Pro linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack become eligible for new contracts.And yes, that is already on McKenzies mind.Yeah, the plan is to keep the good players, like I said, and definitely want to keep our really good players, he said. I dont foresee those situations arising. Weve been planning for those types of players. Mark would come beat me across the head if I let some Hall of Fame-type player leave the building.Im talking to them all the time. Ill take his agent out to dinner any time I see him.McKenzie laughed again.You foster good relationships, he said. But, the number one thing is you get the players that want to be here. So, thats half the battle. You present a good vibe, coaching staff, good relationships with the players and then you win. Thats what you come into, man.When you get a winning team, you dont have to work so hard. I had to work really hard those first three years, to not only keep guys, but get guys to come here. So, hopefully its easier to keep guys that want to be here. Winning cures all and thats whats expected, and thats what were going to do. ' ' '