Runs pile up fine without the long ball

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

Delmon Young smacked a triple in the seventh inning.

The Twins sprayed line-drive hits between the lines, and gave starter Glen Perkins a cushy lead after a seven-run third.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 21, 2008 - 9:22 AM

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TWINS 11, TEXAS 4

Up next: 7:10 p.m. today • Metrodome • TV: FSN

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The sight of Livan Hernandez slipping on his batting gloves Monday must have done something to the Twins.

One night after the Twins reached down to their pitching staff in search of hitters to win a helter-skelter game, they whipped the Rangers 11-4 on Tuesday in the Metrodome in much less stressful environment, and helped lefthander Glen Perkins win his first major league game.

For one night, the Twins jumped on an inexperienced pitcher, made good contact and let some of their speed loose on the basepaths. Carlos Gomez led off with a triple and scored during a two-run first inning against Texas rookie righthander Doug Mathis.

"Gomez getting that triple right off the get-go, and we didn't let up," said Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer, whose double in the third helped shake a 1-for-26 skid. "That was good to see."

The Twins have won the first two games of this four-game series, scoring 16 runs, as they prepare to face former Twin Sidney Ponson tonight.

The Twins led 2-0 through two innings, then sent 12 batters to the plate in the third, the first seven against Mathis.

There really wasn't a big blow, just a bunch of run-scoring hits that turned the diamond into a carousel. A big error by Ian Kinsler on Delmon Young's grounder added kerosene to the fire.

Their 13-hit attack included three doubles and two triples. It was as entertaining as a team can be without a ball landing beyond the fence.

Most impressively, seven of the Twins' first eight hits Tuesday were either up the middle or to the opposite field. With few power threats in the order, they must go with the pitch and use the whole field. When they do, they are a pain to play against. They are 19-6 when they score at least four runs.

Someone eventually will homer. Until then ...

"Everyone likes to see the ball go out of the ballpark," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "but we were patient and we got in good hitting situations and we stayed on the ball and beat them around."

Perkins took control of the game early by changing speeds and pitching inside against a Rangers team that was second in the AL in runs scored. Texas didn't get a runner to second base against Perkins until the seventh inning, when he tired some and had to be replaced by righthander Brian Bass.

Over 6 1/3 innings, Perkins, a former Stillwater High School and Gophers star, gave up two earned runs and three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. The victory was his first in the majors after appearing in 26 games, 23 as a reliever, since debuting in 2006.

"You don't expect wins, you want to help your team to win," Perkins said. "If I don't necessarily get the win that's not the most important thing. The most important thing was giving the team a chance to win.

"It's definitely to a relief to get that first one. Hopefully it's the first of many."

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