Joe Mauer drove a Jakob Junis pitch to the left-center gap to lead off the game, and chugged into second.

That was career double No. 415 for Mauer, allowing him to pass Kirby Puckett for first on the Twins all-time list.

"It would've been nice to do it at home." Mauer said. "I guess it was nice to get it out of way early here. It means a lot to me. Obviously, growing up in Minnesota, the guy I passed, I idolized as a kid. When I told the guys in here when Mollie gave me the ball, it was really special to see the boys up on the top step of the dugout. That meant a lot to me. Hopefully there are a lot more to come."

Mauer got the ball from the double, will get the lineup card from the game and the Royals already have agreed to give him second base. It's the second time he's collected a second base. The other time was when he doubled in Chicago for his 1,000th career hit - and the White Sox had no problem giving him the base.

The bat he used to hit the double will go to Twins archives.

The 415 doubles ties Mauer with Cecil Cooper for 157th all-time. Orlando Cepeda is next at 417.


Roster move

The Twins, after falling eight games under .500 with a loss to the Royals, activated first baseman Logan Morrison from the 10-day disabled list. Morrison has been recovering from a left hip impingement.

To make room for Morrison, the Twins optioned alleged catcher Willians Astudillo to Class AAA Rochester. Because of need, Astudillo played at second, third, left field, center field and even pitched in a blowout loss to Tampa Bay. He NEVER caught, and that's his primary position.

File this under strange and weird moments in Twins history.