lenty of depth on the wing with the return of Nate Britt and Theo Pinson. If

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Houston Astros were bailed out by Mother Nature on Wednesday night in what was supposed to be the third game of a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.After falling behind 5-0 through two innings, a line of strong thunderstorms delayed -- then eventually cancelled -- the game, forcing the clubs to make it up as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday.Well have a long day at the ballpark tomorrow, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. But given where we were, its obviously a decent enough outcome to start the game over.Minnesota came out flying against Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel on Wednesday. Brian Dozier led off the game with a home run and the Twins tacked on four more in the second inning to grab an early five-run lead.Moments after the top of the third began, the rain started and never let up. Twins right-hander Ervin Santana retired one batter before umpires cleared the field.The game was delayed 2 1/2 hours before Major League Baseball decided to cancel it, wiping out the Twins lead. The game will be restarted as though it never happened at 6:10 p.m. CT on Thursday.Theres not much to say. You get off to a good start against a good pitcher and you have your best guy out there and you have to wipe it off the slate like it never happened, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. We tried hard to play. We had some optimism it would stop after the delay, but it kept building.The pitching matchup for the first game on Thursday remains unchanged. Houston will send right-hander Doug Fister to the mound against Twins rookie Jose Berrios.Fister has been outstanding in two August starts, allowing one earned run while striking out 10 in 12 innings. Houston has scored just four runs total in those games, however, and Fister doesnt have a victory to show for it.Berrios has been inconsistent in six starts at the major league level, compiling a 2-2 record with a 8.31 ERA. But perhaps his best start of the season came May 2 in Houston when he allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings, picking up his first career victory.Astros right-hander Chris Devenski will start the nightcap. It will be his 31st appearance with Houston this season but just his fifth start and first since mid-May. He has been effective, racking up 66 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA in 75 1/3 innings.Left-hander Tommy Milone will get the start in the second game for the Twins. Milone was recently demoted to the bullpen after allowing 12 runs in two late-July starts. He last pitched on Sunday, tossing an inning of scoreless relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.After the games Thursday, Minnesota will continue a seven-game homestand on Friday when they open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Houston will travel to Toronto to open a three-game series against the Blue Jays. Custom Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Custom Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. http://www.footballcustomjerseys.com/custom-green-bay-packers-jerseys-168c.html . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Custom Los Angeles Rams Jerseys . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. North Carolina preview capsuleEds: With: BKC--North Carolina Preview. Should stand.By The Associated Press=North CarolinaLast season: 33-7, lost in NCAA championship game.Nickname: Tar Heels.Coach: Roy Williams.Conference: Atlantic Coast.Whos gone: G Marcus Paige, F Brice Johnson, C Joel James.Whos back: G Joel Berry II, a junior likely to get the first crack as the successor to Paige when it comes to taking a big shot. G/F Justin Jackson, a junior who averaged about 12 points per game. F Kennedy Meeks, a 6-foot-10 senior and the teams top returning rebounder. F Isaiah Hicks, a senior who can provide scoring and rebounding if he stays out of foul trouble.Whos new: F Tony Bradley Jr., a 6-10 McDonalds All-American set for an immediate contributing role up front. G Brandon Robinson, a 6-5 freshman wing. G Seventh Woodss, a 6-2 guard known for his athleticism.ddddddddddddG Shea Rush, the son of former UCLA player JaRon Rush.The Skinny: Losing Paige and Johnson were huge blows for a team that lost to Villanova on a last-second 3-pointer on the final Monday night of the season. But the Tar Heels top four upperclassmen all boast double-digit scoring potential and the team has plenty of depth on the wing with the return of Nate Britt and Theo Pinson. If Hicks can stay on the floor after past battles with foul trouble and Bradley provides a reliable interior presence, this looks like a group that can contend for an ACC title and a Final Four berth.---Online:AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '