MINNEAPOLIS -- Left-hander Andrew Albers was expected to be the Twins' designated 26th man for the second game of Thursday's split doubleheader against the Astros, but instead simply had his contract purchased from Triple-A Rochester with lefty reliever Buddy Boshers placed on the 15-day day disabled list with left elbow inflammation.

Albers was pressed into duty right away, as he entered Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader after Tommy Milone left with soreness in his throwing shoulder. Albers saved the bullpen, allowing three earned runs over six innings in a 10-2 loss.

The Twins had planned to recall another player to replace Boshers, but Twins interim general manager Rob Antony said a cancelled flight ruined that plan. The player was expected to be righty reliever Pat Light. So the Twins went without a 26th player in the twin bill. Boshers suffered the injury in the 15-7 loss to the Astros in Game 1, and was charged with six runs in 1 1/3 innings. He's set to undergo an MRI exam on Friday.

"This obviously just popped up today," Antony said. "We will not have a 26th man and the reason is because we had a player coming this morning but he had travel issues. His flight got canceled and wouldn't able to get here until 9:30 p.m. So we had some other moves planned, but with the injury and the travel situation, this is where we're at."

Albers, 30, had an impressive start to his career as a 27-year-old rookie with the Twins in 2013, as he tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings in his debut before throwing a shutout in his second start. He made 10 starts with Minnesota that season, posting a 4.05 ERA. He spent the next year pitching for the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2014 before making one relief appearance with the Blue Jays last year. But he was pitching well at Triple-A Rochester this season and the Twins decided to purchase his contract and call him up.

"He's had a little bit of a journey since then and pitched in Korea," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "But he came back and got an opportunity. He's not too different from the guy people remember. He doesn't throw particularly hard. He throws 86-87 [mph] with a little bit of deception to his delivery, which is why he can pitch well at times. He changes speed with his breaking ball and changeup."

The Twins signed Albers as a free agent April 29 to add to their Minor League pitching depth, and he responded by posting a 3.51 ERA in 19 starts with Rochester. Albers was pitching for the independent Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League before signing with the Twins.

It was the second stint in independent ball for the Saskatchewan, Canada native, as he also pitched for Quebec in the Canadian-American League in 2010 before signing with the Twins the next year.

Albers has a career 3.44 ERA in the Minors, including a 3.81 ERA in 328 2/3 innings at Triple-A. He last started Saturday, so he's fully stretched out to pitch in relief.

"His numbers down there, he's a veteran and should pitch well, and he has," Molitor said. "We needed some length up here. He offers protection in terms of innings."