Continued: Perkins shows his stuff on trip

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Twins lefthander Glen Perkins mastered the Show-Me State challenge over the past week with victories at St. Louis and Kansas City.

On Wednesday, Perkins held the Royals to one run on 10 hits, nine of them singles, with no walks and one strikeout in seven innings, as the Twins won 5-1. Yes, the 10 hits don't look good, but the Twins defense turned three double plays.

You need to induce grounders to get double plays, and Perkins was all about that Wednesday, getting his first 10 outs and 17 of his 21 outs in all on ground balls.

"I had a good sinker today," said Perkins, who beat the Royals for the first time in three career starts against them. "Like last time [Friday in St. Louis], I just tried to keep the ball down and tried to throw it to the bottom of the zone and they beat it into the ground."

Perkins (4-4) has pitched seven innings in each of his past three starts. He was 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA on the road before arriving in Missouri; in giving up one run each to the Cardinals and Royals, he lowered that road ERA to 5.69.

"He worked his way through a few innings where he had to make a pitch here and there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The ball was coming out of his hand very well. He never gave up the big inning."

Ayala released

Reliever Luis Ayala was officially released Wednesday. He was designated for assignment June 22 after posting a 4.18 ERA over 28 games and asking to be traded last month. Bobby Keppel was called up from Class AAA Rochester while the Twins tried to move Ayala.

Pittsburgh was interested, and indications were that the teams discussed Eric Hinske, who would have come off the Twins bench. But Hinske wound up being dealt to the Yankees.

Banged up

Three Twins players went down during Wednesday's game.

Shortstop Nick Punto suffered a stiff lower back after Kansas City's Jose Guillen slid into him while trying to break up a double play in the sixth, a slide that at least one Twins player felt was dirty. Punto completed the double play, but even if he hadn't batter Mark Teahen would have been called out anyway because of interference on Guillen.

"Just a little spasm," said Punto, who was replaced by Brendan Harris. "I'll be all right."

First baseman Justin Morneau had to reach for Punto's throw on the play and felt his groin muscle pull. He had some problems with it over the weekend in St. Louis but said he believes he should be able to play Friday. He was replaced by Brian Buscher.

"If there was a ball hit to my right, I can control it somewhat," Morneau said. "But if there's a play where I have to dive for it, I could have made it a lot worse."

Catcher Mike Redmond was struck on the right forearm with a foul tip off the bat of Mitch Maier in the fifth and slumped to his knees for several moments before he left he field and was replaced by Jose Morales.

X-rays showed only a bone bruise, but Gardenhire was concerned. "I'm sure he's going to be very, very sore," Gardenhire said.

Etc.

• Joe Nathan has converted 33 of 36 save opportunities against the Royals in his career.

• Joe Mauer has eight three-hit games this season.

• The Twins were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position Wednesday and batted .269 with RISP over the nine-game road trip.

• Royals shortstop Mike Aviles will undergo Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and be sidelined for up to 12 months.

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