Garza sees no quality, only loss

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Twins righthander Matt Garza should have been pleased with his outing Thursday -- he held the Royals to one run over 62/3 innings -- but he wasn't.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: August 9, 2007 - 9:53 PM

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Twins righthander Matt Garza should have been pleased with his outing Thursday -- he held the Royals to one run over 62/3 innings -- but he wasn't.

"I shouldn't have given up that run," Garza said, "or we would still be playing."

Garza is 1-3 with a 1.70 ERA in seven games since being called up in early July. On Thursday, he gave up only four hits and walked none while striking out six. His fastball reached 97 miles per hour at times on the Kauffman Stadium radar gun, but he also effectively used his other pitches.

That aspect of his game continues to grow. What might not need tinkering is his accountability.

"Quality starts go out the door," he said. "It really doesn't matter. We are here for a pennant race. I'm not here to pad my stats. I'm here to get this team as far into a game as I can and give us a chance to win.

"I obviously didn't do that today."

A bad nail day

Twins lefthander Johan Santana is in the middle of his annual bout with a cracked fingernail on his left middle finger.

Santana showed how a sliver of the nail was missing after he pitched six innings Wednesday. It's not considered serious, and Santana is expected to make his next scheduled start Tuesday in Seattle.

"It happens most of the time," Santana said, "Right now, it's way better than it was a couple weeks ago. It gets sore, but we'll do some treatment and we'll be fine."

Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said he has suggested that Santana skip a bullpen session between starts to allow the nail more time to grow back.

"Johan said, 'No, we have to work,' "Anderson said.

Twins to sign Williams

The Twins have agreed to terms with righthander Jerome Williams on a minor league deal. Williams, a former first-round pick of the Giants, is expected to sign today.

Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues, said Class AAA Rochester is shorthanded after lefthander Ryan Mullins was returned to Class AA New Britain recently.

Williams, 25, was 0-5 with a 7.20 ERA in six starts with Washington this season but also spent time on the disabled list because of a strained right shoulder.

Watkins arrives

Tommy Watkins entered the clubhouse at 11:08 a.m. Thursday and received plenty of hugs and handshakes.

Watkins, a utility player from Rochester, was called up to replace Brian Buscher, who landed on the 15-day DL because of an abscess in his right leg.

The popular Watkins is in his 10th year in the organization.

"It's been a long road, man," said Watkins, 27. "And just to have a chance to be in this situation is something else."

Buscher was expected to be released from a Twin Cities hospital Thursday after taking intravenous medication for his leg. Watkins can play second, third, short and the outfield.

Perkins penciled in

Lefthander Glen Perkins, who has been out since May 22 because of a strained muscle near his left shoulder, was scheduled to pitch for the Gulf Coast League Twins on Thursday in his latest comeback attempt. Perkins seemed to be recovering well before suffering a setback during a rehab start last month that caused him to be shut down for a couple of weeks.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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