Springs swished two more 3-pointers after that run in th

MINNEAPOLIS -- After getting his first night off in more than a year, Jose Altuve looked as fresh as ever Tuesday night.The All-Star second baseman, who sat out Monday for the first time since June 15, 2015, went 4 for 4 and scored twice as the Houston Astros topped the Minnesota Twins 7-5.The four-hit game for Altuve matched a career high and raised his batting average to .361 as he puts his name in the AL MVP discussion.Hes the biggest piece of this puzzle, teammate Carlos Correa said.Correa drove in four runs, including a first-inning homer with Altuve on base. That snapped a drought of seven straight games for the Astros without a home run.Altuve was given the night off during Mondays series opener, ending the longest active streak in the majors at 202 consecutive games played. He didnt miss a beat one day later, and his third hit helped spark a three-run sixth for the Astros.The undersized star has reached base safely in 39 straight road games, the longest current run in the majors.He looked refreshed, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont think he ever has too much of a bad day. He came out with some fresh legs and the normal swing that he has. Hes just continuing a remarkable season and doing just about everything you could ask out of a player.Astros starter Mike Fiers (8-5) gave up three home runs -- he allowed four total in his previous eight starts -- but benefited from a good night at the plate from his offense. Fiers entered ranked fifth in the American League in run support (6.75 runs per game).No matter the situation, you always need this kind of game, Altuve said. Everybody swung the bat today.Hector Santiago (10-6) took the loss in his first home game for Minnesota and second start with his new team. Santiago was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Ricky Nolasco and made his Twins debut in Cleveland.Like a lot of other pitchers, Santiago had trouble getting Altuve out.You just try to throw it up there, make a good pitch and hopefully he can hit it at somebody, Santiago said. It just seems that every time he hits the ball, its somewhere where nobody is at.The Twins hit consecutive homers off Fiers in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Robbie Grossman hit a two-run shot to right, and Brian Dozier followed with his 23rd of the year. It was the 10th time this season Minnesota went back-to-back, the third-most in team history.Houston reliever Ken Giles allowed a run in the ninth but earned his second save in five opportunities this year. Minnesotas lineup finished 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.ASSISTING FROM THE OUTFIELDHouston outfielders came in tied for the most assists in the majors with 35. The Astros added another, and it came at a crucial time.Center fielder Jake Marisnick threw out Trevor Plouffe at home plate following a single up the middle by Jorge Polanco. Houston catcher Evan Gattis fielded the throw perfectly and tagged Plouffe, preventing what would have been a big run for the Twins.That play kept it a 5-4 Astros lead, and Houston went on to build on that advantage in the next inning. Minnesota also threw out a runner at home plate in the first inning, but the Astros outfield assist was a game-changer.It changes the complexion of the entire game, Hinch said. Jake continues to find ways to contribute in center field. Staying under control, he kept the throw low. Great pick by Gattis, good tag at the plate, and a momentum-shifter that would have changed the game.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: RHP Luke Gregerson (left oblique strain) will throw an aggressive bullpen session on Wednesday, Hinch said. Gregerson could return as early as Friday.UP NEXTAL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) starts Wednesday for Houston in the third game of the series. Keuchel pitched a three-hit shutout his last time out against Texas. Minnesota will send Ervin Santana (5-9, 3.62) to the mound. Cheap NHL Jerseys . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. NHL Jerseys . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Authentic NHL Jerseys . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. MINNEAPOLIS -- Amir Coffey scored all 19 of his points in the second half, after Akeem Springs made three 3-pointers over the final 5 minutes of the first half to finish with 11 points and help Minnesota pull away for an 85-71 victory over Arkansas on Tuesday night.Nate Mason had 13 points and seven assists, Eric Curry made all eight of his free-throw attempts to score 12 points and Reggie Lynch and Jordan Murphy each added 10 points for the Gophers (5-0), who havent won five straight games to start a season in three years.Dusty Hannahs scored 20 points and Moses Kingsley had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Razorbacks (3-1), whose first road trip of the season was rough. They didnt make a 3-pointer until Hannahs hit one at the 4-minute mark and finished 1 for 8 after entering the game 24 for 54 from behind the arc (44.9 percent).Their 21 turnovers were their most since March 21, 2015, an NCAA tournament loss to North Carolina, and they had only six fast-break points after tallying 51 over the first three games. The Gophers had a 26-9 edge in points off turnovers.The freshman Coffey had 30 points on Friday against St. Johns and after a quiet first half got the crowd going with an array of fast-break dunks and slick layups plus a 3-pointer that gave the Gophers a 67-46 lead to match their largest of the game.The Gophers started slowly, but the Razorbacks missed nine of their first 10 shots from the floor and were outscored 25-6 over a stretch of more than 10 minutes. Springs swished two more 3-pointers after that run in the closing minutes of the first half, and the Gophers led by at least 14 points for the rest of the game.This was one of those games for the Gopherrs.dddddddddddd Mason hit the backboard with an errant baseline jumper, but grabbed his own rebound off the ricochet and fired an overhead pass to Ahmad Gilbert on the opposite wing for a 3-pointer and a 58-40 lead.HEY, WE PLAYED THEM TOOBoth Arkansas and Minnesota have already beaten Texas-Arlington, the team picked to win the Sun Belt Conference in a preseason coaches poll. The Gophers beat the Mavericks 84-67 on Nov. 14, holding a 47-32 rebounding advantage and outscoring them 49-26 in the second half. The Razorbacks edged UTA 71-67 on Friday after overcoming a 17-point deficit in the first half.BIG PICTUREArkansas: A team packed with upperclassmen picked to finish fifth in the preseason SEC media poll that tapped Kingsley as the player of the year, the Razorbacks will need to make some significant improvements before a Dec. 17 game against No. 22 Texas.Minnesota: With Springs, a senior and graduate transfer from Milwaukee, and Lynch, a junior and transfer from Illinois State who sat out last season per NCAA rule, the Gophers have injected an instant dose of experience in a team that finished 8-23 last season. Springs added three rebounds and three assists, and Lynch grabbed seven rebounds in 21 minutes.UP NEXTArkansas returns home on Monday to host Mount St. Marys, the first of five straight home games.Minnesota hosts Southern Illinois on Friday, before the first road game on Monday at Florida State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.---For more college basketball coverage: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '