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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins were given an unexpected day off because of the weather. They sure needed the extra time to warm back up from the night before. The Blue Jays-Twins game Wednesday was postponed more than seven hours before it was scheduled to begin, due to the unseasonable cold causing a spring storm to produce blowing snow all afternoon with some accumulation predicted at night. Since this week is Torontos only trip to Minnesota, the teams will play a day-night doubleheader Thursday. The forecast was calling for a high temperature of about 42 degrees Thursday but clear and dry conditions. The Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-3 Tuesday without precipitation problems, but the first-pitch temperature was 35 degrees. "Weve got a roof up there in Toronto, so we dont get exposed to it that much. Youve just got to be mentally tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after the game. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had trouble gripping the ball and didnt finish the fourth inning. He escaped with only two runs allowed. "I didnt feel helpless. I was still trying on every pitch. But nothing was working," Morrow said. Third baseman Brett Lawrie didnt let the cold stop him from hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning, but he still felt it. "It just kind of hits you. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Lawrie said, adding: "Get your cold gear on and man up." One potential casualty of the cold was designated hitter Adam Linds back. He left the game Tuesday with tightness and has a history of back trouble. The Blue Jays held out centre fielder Colby Rasmus Tuesday because of hamstring tightness that forced him out Sunday at Baltimore. The cold could also work against R.A. Dickeys knuckleball, which thrives in humid, hot conditions. The Blue Jays switched their rotation to start Dickey in the matinee Thursday and use Dustin McGowan for the rescheduled game, which will start six hours after the first one. The Twins kept Kyle Gibson as their starter for the afternoon game, meaning Mike Pelfrey will take the mound Thursday night after having this turn bumped back. Pelfrey will try to bounce back from two rough appearances to start the season. Another pitcher in need of a rebound is reliever Jared Burton, the primary setup man. After posting a 2.18 ERA in 64 appearances in 2012, Burton had his ERA rise to 3.82 in 71 appearances last year. He was charged with nine losses. This season, he has allowed six hits, eight runs and three walks in five innings, including Lawries grand slam Tuesday. "I dont know whats going on with him right now. Hes not pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding: "Hes got good stuff. Hes got a track record. So weve just got to figure out a way to get him right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches, another byproduct of the April cold. "I think pitchers and hitters will both tell you that its tough at the beginning of the year with the weather and everything. Ive just got to do a better job of getting ahead of guys. Im behind everybody, and its a lot easier to hit when youre ahead in the count," he said. Burton expressed confidence hell bounce back. "I feel fine. Im healthy. Im just human. Were under a little bit of a microscope and when we struggle it shows. Ill figure it out. We all go through these phases. Its just a matter of stopping a slump and starting a streak," he said. NOTES: Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have had nine weather-induced postponements, plus one game suspended by rain and finished the following day. Three of them came last April. ... Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen and shortstop Jose Reyes both played for Class A Dunedin on rehab assignments Tuesday. 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Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, president of the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company), will be leaving her post but will remain as an advisor, a city hall statement said Tuesday.NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay star centre Steven Stamkos is the NHLs first star of the week after helping the Lightning win three straight games and move to the top of the Atlantic Division. Stamkos had three goals and four assists as the Lightning started the week with a 6-5 win over defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago before beating Buffalo and Florida. The 23-year-old native of Markham, Ont., has five multi-point games this season and ranks second in the NHL with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 11 games. Toronto winger Phil Kessel was named the second star with five goals on 10 shots in the Maple Leafs three games. Kessels best performance of the week was in a 4-2 win over Anaheim, where he reccorded his fourth career hat trick and scored the game winner.dddddddddddd The 26-year-old native of Madison, Wis., leads the Maple Leafs with seven goals and seven assists in 12 games. Vancouver centre Ryan Kesler was named third star with four goals and two assists as the Canucks closed a season-long seven-game road trip with three consecutive wins. The highlight of the week came in the final game of the road swing, where Kessel scored twice, including the deciding goal in overtime, as the Canucks beat St. Louis 3-2. The 29-year-old native of Livonia, Mich., leads the Canucks with seven goals, including two game-winners, and ranks third on the team with 10 points in 13 games this season. ' ' '