Mauer gets day off as Butera starts

BOSTON -- Catcher Joe Mauer was held out of the starting lineup for the first time since June 22, as Drew Butera started behind the plate against the Red Sox on Thursday.

Mauer, who served as a pinch-hitter in that game in Cincinnati, started in 35 straight games before getting the day off in Boston.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said it was just time to give Mauer a break, especially considering the club is in the midst of 13 straight games without a day off.

"I think he took enough of a beating yesterday," Gardenhire said. "It was 95 degrees and there was a lot of balls in the dirt and running the bases. He was gassed. So, I didn't want to push him. We're playing a lot of games in a row again."

Mauer, 29, had played in 96 of the Twins' 104 games entering Thursday after playing in just 82 games last season due to various injuries.