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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins were happy to complete a sweep, even if it was against the Houston Astros. Justin Morneau and Oswaldo Arcia homered Sunday as the Twins completed a sweep of the Houston Astros with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. "We needed these games against these guys," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Were fighting through some of the same things, with all the kids and all those things. We had to win these games." The Twins hadnt swept a series, or won three games in a row, since June 18-20 against the Chicago White Sox. And although the Astros have baseballs worst record at 36-74 and have now lost 9 of 11 it didnt dampen the Twins joy over their modest winning streak. Minnesota started the six-game homestand with three straight losses to the Royals, prompting Gardenhire to call a team meeting then send an additional message with an early-morning workout. "We couldnt keep playing that way," said right-hander Mike Pelfrey, who laboured through five innings Sunday and left with the game tied 2-2. "I think Gardy was right the other day when he said it seemed like Kansas City might have wanted it a little more. Thats frustrating, because we were flat. But we came out and responded. Hopefully we dont have to get an early workout next time to (get us) to play a little better, but whatever it takes to win games. I think were all here to win; it doesnt always work out as much as it should." Arcia led off the seventh with a home run that broke a 2-all tie. He connected against Brad Peacock (1-4), who was promoted from Triple-A to make the start and set career highs with 10 strikeouts and seven innings pitched. The ball bounced off the top of the tall scoreboard in right-centre and back into play, but second base umpire Bob Davidson quickly signalled homer. Caleb Thielbar (2-1) got two outs for the win, and Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his 27th save. Morneau hit a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning after Joe Mauer drew a walk off Peacock, who was recalled from Triple A to make the start. It was Morneaus third homer in eight games; he had hit one in his previous 17. "He misfired on Joe and I got to see some pitches," Morneau said. "I got 2-0 and felt like I had a decent swing and pulled the ball foul, and its still a hitters count, and was able to be aggressive. He pitched a great game; he deserved to win that game. But that was one we needed." The homer gave Pelfrey a head start toward his first victory in nearly a month. But he laboured, needing 78 pitches to work himself into and out of trouble through four innings before it caught up with him in the fifth, when he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. The right-hander hasnt won since pitching six scoreless innings to win at Toronto on July 6. Hes 1-3 since then but has an ERA of 3.35 in five starts. Still, 4-9 with a 5.23 ERA is not what Pelfrey was looking for in his first season back from ligament replacement surgery. "I look in, get the sign and give it everything I have," Pelfrey said. "Im just not making pitches." NOTES: Twins OF Josh Willingham (knee) went to join Triple-A Rochester in Durham, N.C., for a rehab assignment. He is expected to play four games with the Red Wings and rejoin the Twins for a four-game series against the White Sox, likely as the designated hitter. ... Twins C Wilkin Ramirez (concussion) was sent to Double-A New Britain to continue a rehab assignment. Stitched Royals Jerseys . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Royals Jerseys China .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Kansas City Royals Pro Shop . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Top-20 player Belinda Bencic says on Twitter that she is pulling out of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, another blow to a Swiss tennis team that lost Roger Federer this week, too.Bencic, who is No. 16 in the WTA rankings, says Wednesday that she is not completely ready to compete at the Summer Games, although her injured left wrist has healed.The wrist problem forced the 19-year-old Bencic to quit during her second-round match at Wimbledon on Juune 30.ddddddddddddederer announced Tuesday that he would sit out the rest of the season to protect his surgically repaired left knee.One person affected by both withdrawals is Martina Hingis, who was expected to play doubles with Bencic and mixed doubles with Federer at the Olympics. Hingis mother coaches Bencic. ' ' '