MINNEAPOLIS (AP) When Erick Aybar came trotting home on a double from Mike Trout that gave the Los Angeles an early lead over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, Angels starter Ervin Santana raised his hands in the dugout and smiled.

Hard to blame, him. It had been quite a while since he had pitched with a run on the board.

Ervin Santana pitched 7 1-3 innings and got some run support from the Angels offense for the first time in his past six starts in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Santana (1-6) gave up two runs and six hits and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who took two of three from the Twins. Trout had two doubles, two RBIs and scored twice and Howie Kendrick added three hits for Los Angeles.

“It was great,” Pujols said. “He’s been pitching the ball well. It’s great to give run support to any of our starting pitchers. As competitive as they are, Ervin knew we scored some runs early, but he kept making his pitches, never lost his focus.”

Carl Pavano (2-3) was knocked out of the game before there was an out in the fifth inning for the Twins, who are an MLB-worst 8-22. He gave up five runs – four earned – and 10 hits in his shortest outing of the season.

Josh Willingham hit his sixth homer of the season and also had a double for the Twins, who shook things up after the game by moving struggling starter Francisco Lirianoto the bullpen and sending third baseman Danny Valencia to Triple-A Rochester.

“We need to make some changes,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Sam Holbrook, but that was about the only thing that went wrong for Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

With Pujols struggling mightily in his first season in the American League, the Angels have been shut out seven times this season. Santana is the first pitcher since 1974 to go through five straight starts where his offense was shut out, according to STATS LLC.

When Trout’s double scored Aybar in the third inning, it was the first time Santana had received a run of support since the third inning on April 8 against Kansas City.

“He felt better, obviously, getting a couple runs,” Scioscia said. “I felt as the game picked up his command got a little bit better.”

Pujols added an RBI single and Alberto Callaspo scored thanks to a throwing error from first baseman Joe Mauer that hit Pujols in the back on his way to second base for a 3-0 lead. Pujols came up a little gimpy on the play, but he quickly shooed trainers off the field and stayed in the game.

Los Angeles tacked on two more in the fifth, getting rocket doubles to the gap from Trout and Callaspo to start the inning and chase Pavano, who has been searching for lost velocity all season long. With a fastball that routinely was clocked in the mid-80s, and an unwillingness to pitch inside, the Angels hitters were able to crowd the plate and hammer the outside corners early and often.

Pavano gave up four doubles and only lasted as long as he did thanks to three inning-ending double plays.

Santana certainly wasn’t blameless for the 0-5 record he carried into the outing. The right-hander gave up 19 earned runs and 10 homers in his first four starts, one of the chief reasons the Angels got off to such a surprisingly poor start.

But he’s gotten progressively better over his past three outings, looking more and more like the reliable 16-game winner he was last season. He’s allowed seven earned runs in 22 1-3 innings over his past three starts.

“It’s not like we’re not going out and trying to score runs,” Kendrick said. “We got shut out yesterday, but we come out today and put up 14 hits. It’s like we’re a completely different offense. Everybody is still not where they want to be at, but we’re close.”

NOTES: Twins GM Terry Ryan said DH Justin Morneau received a cortisone shot in his sore left wrist at the Cleveland Clinic. The plan is for him to take some swings on Saturday. While still early in his DL stint, the Twins are hopeful Morneau will be ready to come off on May 15 and join the team for the eight-game road trip that begins in Detroit on May 16. … Torii Hunter hit into two double plays, and the two struggling offenses combined for five in the game. … Angels LF Vernon Wells made an outstanding catch on a dead run to rob Mauer of an extra-base hit in the sixth. …. The Angels have the day off on Thursday before beginning a big series at Texas on Friday. LHP C.J. Wilson (4-2, 2.61) will pitch his first game against the Rangers on Friday night while RHP Yu Darvish (4-1, 2.54) will pitch for Texas. … The Twins open a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Jason Marquis (2-1, 5.40) will pitch Game 1 for Minnesota against RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-2, 2.83).

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) When Erick Aybar came trotting home on a double from Mike Trout that gave the Los Angeles an early lead over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, Angels starter Ervin Santana raised his hands in the dugout and smiled.

Hard to blame, him. It had been quite a while since he had pitched with a run on the board.

Ervin Santana pitched 7 1-3 innings and got some run support from the Angels offense for the first time in his past six starts in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Santana (1-6) gave up two runs and six hits and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who took two of three from the Twins. Trout had two doubles, two RBIs and scored twice and Howie Kendrick added three hits for Los Angeles.

”It was great,” Pujols said. ”He’s been pitching the ball well. It’s great to give run support to any of our starting pitchers. As competitive as they are, Ervin knew we scored some runs early, but he kept making his pitches, never lost his focus.”

Carl Pavano (2-3) was knocked out of the game before there was an out in the fifth inning for the Twins, who are an MLB-worst 8-22. He gave up five runs – four earned – and 10 hits in his shortest outing of the season.

Josh Willingham hit his sixth homer of the season and also had a double for the Twins, who shook things up after the game by moving struggling starter Francisco Liriano to the bullpen and sending third baseman Danny Valencia to Triple-A Rochester.

”We need to make some changes,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ”We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Sam Holbrook, but that was about the only thing that went wrong for Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

With Pujols struggling mightily in his first season in the American League, the Angels have been shut out seven times this season. Santana is the first pitcher since 1974 to go through five straight starts where his offense was shut out, according to STATS LLC.

When Trout’s double scored Aybar in the third inning, it was the first time Santana had received a run of support since the third inning on April 8 against Kansas City.

”He felt better, obviously, getting a couple runs,” Scioscia said. ”I felt as the game picked up his command got a little bit better.”

Pujols added an RBI single and Alberto Callaspo scored thanks to a throwing error from first baseman Joe Mauer that hit Pujols in the back on his way to second base for a 3-0 lead. Pujols came up a little gimpy on the play, but he quickly shooed trainers off the field and stayed in the game.

Los Angeles tacked on two more in the fifth, getting rocket doubles to the gap from Trout and Callaspo to start the inning and chase Pavano, who has been searching for lost velocity all season long. With a fastball that routinely was clocked in the mid-80s, and an unwillingness to pitch inside, the Angels hitters were able to crowd the plate and hammer the outside corners early and often.

Pavano gave up four doubles and only lasted as long as he did thanks to three inning-ending double plays.

Santana certainly wasn’t blameless for the 0-5 record he carried into the outing. The right-hander gave up 19 earned runs and 10 homers in his first four starts, one of the chief reasons the Angels got off to such a surprisingly poor start.

But he’s gotten progressively better over his past three outings, looking more and more like the reliable 16-game winner he was last season. He’s allowed seven earned runs in 22 1-3 innings over his past three starts.

”It’s not like we’re not going out and trying to score runs,” Kendrick said. ”We got shut out yesterday, but we come out today and put up 14 hits. It’s like we’re a completely different offense. Everybody is still not where they want to be at, but we’re close.”

NOTES: Twins GM Terry Ryan said DH Justin Morneau received a cortisone shot in his sore left wrist at the Cleveland Clinic. The plan is for him to take some swings on Saturday. While still early in his DL stint, the Twins are hopeful Morneau will be ready to come off on May 15 and join the team for the eight-game road trip that begins in Detroit on May 16. … Torii Hunter hit into two double plays, and the two struggling offenses combined for five in the game. … Angels LF Vernon Wells made an outstanding catch on a dead run to rob Mauer of an extra-base hit in the sixth. …. The Angels have the day off on Thursday before beginning a big series at Texas on Friday. LHP C.J. Wilson (4-2, 2.61) will pitch his first game against the Rangers on Friday night while RHP Yu Darvish (4-1, 2.54) will pitch for Texas. … The Twins open a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Jason Marquis (2-1, 5.40) will pitch Game 1 for Minnesota against RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-2, 2.83).

NEW YORK (AP) Justin Morneau found out he was being dropped to fifth in the Minnesota Twins‘ lineup, allowing AL Player of the Week Josh Willingham to fit between him and Joe Mauer, and made a suggestion: He wanted to play first base for the first time this season.

”I thought that was pretty cool,” Ron Gardenhire said Monday night before the Twins played at the New York Yankees.

Relegated to designated hitter duty as he recovers from an assortment of injuries, including a concussion, that limited him to just 69 games last year and 81 in 2010, Morneau says he’s feeling well enough to make the move to the field – and Gardenhire didn’t disagree.

The 2006 AL MVP was switched to the DH role after starting slowly in spring training and he will make a gradual return to first base. Gardenhire had talked about giving Morneau a start at first in the upcoming weekend series at the Tampa Bay Rays.

”I think the longer I wait the more difficult it will be to just find that rhythm,” Morneau said. ”Obviously the goal is to be playing every day or close to every day by the end of the year.”

Morneau will get a day off Tuesday, when the Yankees send CC Sabathia to the mound, Gardenhire said.

For now, an occasional turn at first by Morneau gives Gardenhire greater flexibility with his lineup. Primarily he will be able to give Mauer some days at DH – the first coming Monday night. Mauer played only 82 games last season in part because of soreness and weakness in his legs. Entering Monday night, he had played six games at catcher and three at first base. Serving as the designated hitter will give the 2009 MVP a chance to remain in the lineup and get some rest.

”It’s a little bit of a break off your legs,” Gardenhire said of the DH spot.

Keeping the M&M Boys in the lineup is crucial for the Twins coming off a season in which they lost 99 games. Morneau is hitting just .206 with a homer and two RBIs during Minnesota’s 2-7 start. Mauer is hitting .242 with a homer and five RBIs.

But Willingham is tearing it up, batting .419 with four homers and seven RBIs. He hit .455 (10 for 22) last week with three homers, four RBIs and six runs scored. And Gardenhire wanted to move him into the cleanup spot while splitting the left-handed hitting Mauer and Morneau.

According to STATS LLC, this is the first time since April 4, 2008, that Morneau and Mauer have started and not hit consecutively in the order, a span of 331 starts.

”I really don’t think anything of it,” Willingham said. ”We’ll go on and play nine innings like we always do.”

Also, general manager Terry Ryan said starter Nick Blackburn is day to day. Blackburn felt a cramp in the back of the shoulder Saturday against the Texas Rangers, and he left in the sixth inning. He will play catch Wednesday and then, if all goes well, he will have a bullpen session Friday. The most he should miss is one start, Gardenhire said.

Left-handed reliever Glen Perkins had an MRI exam on Monday that showed some tenderness in his forearm. He will remain back in Minnesota for two more days before deciding if any further action is needed, Ryan said.

After getting swept by the two-time defending AL champions, things won’t get any easier for the Minnesota Twins as they start a difficult four-game series Monday night.

Including postseason, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees have won 33 of 40 at home against the Twins over the past decade, and Yankee Stadium fans will likely be relishing the chance to rudely greet Minnesota starter Carl Pavano.

Minnesota (2-7) was swept over the weekend by Texas at home, and now faces a major nemesis. The Yankees (5-4) have eliminated Ron Gardenhire’s club from the playoffs four times in the decade since he took over as Twins manager, and he’s well aware of his poor record in the Bronx.

“We just play the schedule,” Gardenhire told MLB.com. “We’ll go to New York for four tough games, and then off to Tampa for three more tough ballgames. So it’s a tough road trip.”

The 37-year-old Jeter had two hits including a three-run homer in Sunday’s 11-5 rout of the Angels. He’s 12 for 28 with six extra-base hits in the Yankees’ current 5-1 surge.

“He looks really good,” double-play partner Robinson Cano said. “I’m happy for that guy because people always criticize, his age and stuff like that, so I’m happy to see him have a good start.”

Jeter is 4 for 10 in the regular season against Pavano (0-1, 5.93 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in two division series losses to New York since joining Minnesota. Pavano hasn’t faced New York in the regular season with Minnesota, but returned to the Bronx in 2009 while with Cleveland.

Yankees fans likely still harbor memories of his ill-fated stint with the club between 2005-08, when he was limited to 26 starts and made nearly $40 million while spending most of his time on the disabled list.

The veteran right-hander has been about as effective through two starts as he was in those days with New York, yielding five runs over 6 2-3 innings Wednesday and not getting a decision in the Twins’ 6-5 win over the Angels.

Jeter led New York with a .355 average against Minnesota as the Yankees went 6-2 in last season’s series. Mark Teixeira batted .346 with three homers and nine RBIs.

“You’re going to have to face them sometime,” Twins catcher Joe Mauer said. “It’s a tough part of our schedule. We might as well see them early.”

Mauer hit .346 against the Yankees last season while Justin Morneau batted .158. Mauer went 2 for 10 over the weekend with three walks while Morneau was 1 for 12 with five strikeouts.

Each grounded into a double play in Sunday’s 4-3 loss, increasing Minnesota’s season total of twin killings to a major league-leading 13.

“It’s been frustrating,” Mauer said. “Guys are hitting the ball hard and at people and things like that. But you’ve just got to keep plugging away.”

Mauer is a ,419 career hitter against Freddy Garcia (0-0, 5.79), who starts Monday for New York, while Morneau is at .207 against him.

Garcia will make his first home start after giving up four runs over 4 2-3 innings in Tuesday’s 5-4, 12-inning victory at Baltimore.

The veteran right-hander went 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his final six 2011 home starts before he lost to Detroit in Game 2 of an AL division series.

Garcia is 10-7 with a 4.04 ERA in 22 career starts against the Twins.

Their old breakfast hangout, the Original Pancake House in Bloomington, is too far a schlepp from downtown Minneapolis, so some of the Minnesota Twins Class of 2002 met up Monday morning at classier digs: Manny’s, in the Foshay Tower.

That’s where Torii Hunter and LaTroy Hawkins, now with the Los Angeles Angels, and the retired Eddie Guardado, Jacque Jones, Brad Radke and Joe Mays busted on each other as always, laughing and retelling old stories. Some of them, anyway. “We couldn’t say a lot because Eddie’s kids were with him,” Hunter said.

The merriment continued later at Target Field, where those six joined Denny Hocking, Doug Mientkiewicz, Eric Milton, Corey Koskie, then-and-now manager Ron Gardenhire and four coaches to throw out first balls before the Twins home opener against the Angels. Hunter and Hawkins, who left the Twins under less-than-cordial circumstances, acted all huggy and appreciative with the crowd’s eyes on them. But they couldn’t unload their ceremonial baseballs fast enough, rolling them over the dugout roof as soon as they jogged off the field.

The 2002 team remains the only one to win a playoff series with Gardenhire as manager, and the festivities afforded a temporary distraction to a reality as cold as the afternoon gusts. Ten years later, the qualities that made that scruffy bunch so tough and so lovable – the grit, the hustle, the defense, the whole Little Engine That Could mentality – escape the present-day Twins. And it may take years to get them back.

A troubling sign

Monday’s 5-1 loss left the Twins 0-4 for the first time since 1981, and one loss away from the worst start since the club moved from Washington in 1961. The game wasn’t 15 minutes old when the Angels turned an old Twins staple around on them, a troubling sign that foretold the rest of the day.

The slow-footed Albert Pujols, rarely known for hustling as a Cardinal, lumbered from first to third in the first inning because center fielder Denard Span – normally one of the most aggressive Twins – chased a Kendrick Morales single to his left as if it had a lit fuse. Two runs followed. “We would first-and-third you to death,” said Mientkiewicz, the old first baseman and a rookie hitting coach in the Dodgers system. “I hear that in my sleep sometimes.” And in the seventh, Erick Aybar suicide-squeezed home a run that finished off L.A.’s 5-1 victory.

The Angels, Texas and Tampa Bay all play like the Twins used to, only with better players, and the Rays supplanted the Twins as the limited-budget model of building a division champion through scouting and player development.

Ten bucks says the 2002 Twins would kick this team’s butt nine games out of 10, which is a disgrace given the discrepancy in payroll ($40.2 million then, $94.1 million now) and the presence of home-grown former Most Valuable Players Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer in the lineup. Their arrival helped transform the Twins from that slap-and-run, bunny-cute operation to a heavily left-handed slugging team, perfect for the Metrodome but ill-suited to the unfriendly winds of Target Field.

In 10 years, the whole personality of the franchise has changed. Practical jokes abounded on that 2002 team, some perpetrated by Gardenhire himself. Hunter and Mientkiewicz praised Gardenhire for fostering a loose clubhouse and an aggressive style that bred confidence, making up for a lack of power and dominant pitching. Nobody scared those guys. Today’s Twins cower in the presence of Yankee pinstripes.

Twins system

The 2002 players earned their way to the majors by rising through the Twins system, with some acquired by general manager Terry Ryan. After an 85-win sendoff for Tom Kelly in 2001, the club sweated out the threat of contraction before running away with the A.L. Central the next year.

The Moneyball acolytes might not tell you this, but those Twins stole a five-game Division Series from an Oakland A’s team that started Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson, the most formidable rotation in baseball outside of Atlanta’s Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. They beat Hudson in Game 4 and Mulder in Game 5 to close it out, which seems more and more unbelievable with each passing season.

REUTERS/Eric MillerJoe Mauer catching a throw to first base on a ball hit by Peter Bourjos during the ninth inning.

“When people told us we couldn’t do something, we proved them wrong,” Mientkiewicz said. “And we took it personal. They called us a 4-A team, guys who were too good for Triple A but not good enough to play in the big leagues. That motivated us.”

No one reflected that better than the resilient Guardado. Thrust into the closer’s role in 2001 when the harder-throwing Hawkins couldn’t handle the pressure, “Everyday Eddie” saved 45 games, then a club record, without a single dominant pitch. Often, Guardado’s tendency for drama sent Gardenhire’s blood pressure through the roof. In Game 5 Guardado nearly blew a 5-1 lead for Radke, giving up four hits in the ninth (one a three-run homer by Mark Ellis) before second baseman Hocking ran down Ray Durham’s foul pop for the final out with the tying run at first.

“I said to Andy [pitching coach Rick Anderson], ‘Go out and talk to him,’ “  Gardenhire said.  “He told Andy, `I can’t spit.’ That’s perfect. But he got them out.”

We saw a glimpse of the old Twins Way in the third, when Mauer scrambled to second after catcher Chris Iannetta blocked a C.J. Wilson pitch in the dirt. That put two runners in scoring position for Morneau, one of the few strong-swinging Twins, but he tapped to the mound to end the inning. Newcomer Josh Willingham crushed a leadoff homer off the second-deck ribbon board in the fourth, his second of the season (no other Twin has any), and just missed another in sixth. But that’s been it for power. The Twins are batting .165 as a team and have yet to lead in any game.

It’s hard to imagine the Twins playing this badly all year, even coming off a 99-loss season. But it’s equally hard to imagine this roster, especially the younger players, clawing and scrapping like their counterparts from 10 years ago. Today’s Twins lack passion, panache and maybe a little heart. Monday, they didn’t need to look far to see what’s missing.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Jason Marquis warms up before starting on the mound against the Boston Red Sox Monday. It was a short outing for Marquis, who was yanked by manager Ron Gardenhire after one and two-thirds innings. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – With his daughter recovering well after an accident, Jason Marquis appears ready to resume his first season with the Twins. The right-hander is expected to return to camp on Tuesday, April 3, the day before the Twins break camp and head to Baltimore for Friday’s season opener.

“It’s pretty obvious there’s not much chance that he’ll start with us,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We’ll have to do something here.”

The Twins already have made provisions for his absence, inserting rookie right-hander Liam Hendriks into his No. 3 slot in the rotation. By Wednesday, general manager Terry Ryan will have to determine what kind of exemption list to place Marquis on so the team can use his 40-man roster spot. The

most likely is Major League Baseball’s bereavement list, which allows players to miss between three and seven days for a family medical emergency.

The move would be backdated to his last start, March 19.

First, however, the Twins need to see what kind of shape Marquis is in. His daughter is recovering from a serious bicycle accident, and Marquis has been with his family for the past two weeks. He has been working out with a local high school baseball team near his home in New York, telling general manager Terry Ryan he has thrown between 90-95 pitches in a game.

That’s great, the GM said, but it’s not spring training. “I don’t doubt the effort,” Ryan said, “but it’s different.”

Marquis, 33, made four starts on the major league

side of camp before leaving, giving up 12 earned runs on 19 hits in 12-2/3 innings. Gardenhire said the primary concern has always been Marquis’ daughter and that with her condition stabilized, the team can now work on getting Marquis ready for the season.

“He says he has been throwing 90-95 pitches to kids or something like that, but that doesn’t do us any good down here,” the manager said. “We have to get him in under our circumstances here and get him to where he is throwing to some hitters

and get him in a game again. But first we have to see him throw on the side. We have a lot of work to do here, then that will dictate what we do next.”

The Twins are committed to a four-man rotation for the first two series, a decision made possible because they have an off day after the home opener April 9. After that, however, they play 15 consecutive games, and 19 in 20 days, so they’d like to get Marquis ready for a home series April 13-15 against the Texas Rangers.

“We’ll take a look and see where he’s at,” Ryan said. “Until then, I certainly don’t want to jump to any conclusions.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Though Scott Baker was pushed back from his scheduled start Thursday, March 15, because of a sore right elbow, Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan isn’t concerned there is a serious injury.

The right-hander pitched just 12 innings in the final two months of the 2011 season because of elbow problems, but, as Ryan said, Baker also had elbow tenderness during previous springs. Baker is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, and the Twins aren’t planning to get an MRI.

“This is a standard thing that happens to him every spring,” Ryan said. “It has for probably the last three or four years straight.”

Coming off a two-inning outing, Baker tried to pitch again Saturday on three days’ rest and had

trouble getting loose during a B game, but afterward said he felt fine. Ryan said the fact the Twins took him out of his routine played into the elbow tightness.

If his problems turn out to be more serious, though, it would be a blow to the Twins’ season. Baker was probably the Twins’ best pitcher during the first four months of the 2011 season, lowering his ERA to 2.86 with a seven-inning start against Texas on July 28.

He made just two more starts after that, coming back in September for a pair of bullpen appearances. In 2010, he had two cortisone shots on his elbow during the season and an MRI after the Twins lost in the American League Division Series.

Asked if the last two seasons were a cause for greater concern, Ryan just

shook his head.

“There aren’t any excuses here. He’s just tender,” Ryan said. “You can make all out of that, that you want. The fact of the matter is, he’s got a tender elbow.”

Ryan said Baker was feeling better after sitting for three days and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. If all goes well, the Twins will put him back in the rotation next week.

“We have time and ample opportunity to get him stretched out,” Ryan said. “He’s one of the hardest workers we have, and he has

been for several years. But he’s had this issue almost every spring. We’ll get him right.”

Follow Ben Goessling at twitter.com/BenGoesslingPP

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Glen Perkins appeared on the outs with the Minnesota Twins in 2010, his struggles on the mound compounded by a grievance he filed against the team the previous season.

Two years later, Perkins is the one arm the Twins know they can count on in the back end of their bullpen. Minnesota and the left-handed setup man agreed Thursday to a four-year contract that adds $10.3 million over three seasons and includes a team option for 2016.

For the first time in his career, Perkins has some level of stability and security.

”I hate using cliches, but it means I can just go out and pitch for the next four years,” Perkins said. ”That’s all that matters now. I can just go out there and pitch. I don’t have to worry about anything other than pitching. I don’t have to worry about anything like my family and all those good things.”

Perkins emerged as a reliable late-inning reliever last season, going 4-4 with a 2.48 ERA in 65 games. He struck out 65 and walked 21 in 61 2-3 innings.

”Everything has changed over the last couple of years,” manager Ron Gardenhire said earlier this spring training. ”He’s content. He understands more about the game than he ever has. He understands what he wants out of the game more than he ever did before.”

It was a breakout season that came as a surprise to some after a couple of injury plagued years that included 2009, when Perkins and his agent had the players’ association file a grievance against the Twins for sending him to Triple-A Rochester after activating him from the disabled list in August. Perkins thought he should have remained on the major league roster and been sent on a rehab assignment instead. The grievance was later settled.

He was converted from a starter to a reliever and grabbed a role as an overpowering setup man last season. Now with closer Joe Nathan gone to Texas, Matt Capps coming off of a disappointing 2011, starter Brian Duensing moving to the bullpen from the rotation and Joel Zumaya out for the season with elbow-ligament replacement surgery, Perkins is the rock.

”He’s got the perfect situation. He’s living at home. He grew up a Twins fan,” Gardenhire said. ”Can’t get any better for him and I think it took a while for him to realize how fortunate he was. That’s just being in the game and seeing how other people handle it. He’s done an awful lot in this game already and he’s got a lot more he can do, and he realizes that, believe me. I think he really likes what he’s doing.”

With a healthy arm, the former University of Minnesota standout and native of Stillwater, Minn., has seen his velocity jump a little and he is comfortable this spring knowing that he has a role with the team from the start. There has even been some talk about Perkins eventually becoming the team’s closer.

”I feel like where I pitched last year and where I’ll pitch this year that I can impact a game as much, or more, and I’m OK with that,” Perkins said earlier this spring. ”I like coming into situations where a closer wouldn’t typically come in. It is a cliche, but I like to help out the team, and I think I can help out the team the most, for me, this way.”

Perkins agreed in January to a $1.55 million salary for this year.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Glen Perkins appeared to be on the outs with the Minnesota Twins in 2010, his struggles on the mound compounded by a grievance he filed against the team the previous season.

Two years later, Perkins is the one arm the Twins know they can count on in the back end of their bullpen. The team signed the left-handed setup man to a three-year extension on Thursday that is worth $10.3 million with a team option for 2016.

“He has been a reliable reliever for us and has helped stabilize the back end of our bullpen in the set-up role,” GM Terry Ryan said. “When we were looking for someone to step up last year, it was Glen who seized the opportunity and pitched the way we knew he could.”

Perkins emerged as a reliable late-inning reliever last season, going 4-4 with a 2.48 earned-run average in 65 appearances. He struck out 65 and walked 21 in 61 2/3 innings.

“Everything has changed over the last couple of years,” manager Ron Gardenhire said earlier this spring. “He’s content. He understands more about the game than he ever has. He understands what he wants out of the game more than he ever did before.”

It was a breakout season that came as a surprise to some after a couple of injury plagued years that included 2009, when Perkins and his agent filed a grievance against the Twins for sending him to Triple-A Rochester after activating him from the disabled list in August. Perkins thought he should have remained on the major league roster and been sent on a rehab assignment instead.

He was converted from a starter to a reliever and grabbed a role as an overpowering setup man last season. Now with closer Joe Nathan gone to Texas, Matt Capps coming off of a disappointing 2011, starter Brian Duensing moving to the bullpen from the rotation and Joel Zumaya out for the season with Tommy John surgery, Perkins is the rock.

“He’s got the perfect situation. He’s living at home. He grew up a Twins fan,” Gardenhire said. “Can’t get any better for him and I think it took a while for him to realize how fortunate he was. That’s just being in the game and seeing how other people handle it. He’s done an awful lot in this game already and he’s got a lot more he can do, and he realizes that, believe me. I think he really likes what he’s doing.”

With a healthy arm, the former University of Minnesota standout and native of Stillwater, Minn., has seen his velocity jump a little and he is comfortable this spring knowing that he has a role with the team from the start. There has even been some talk about Perkins eventually becoming the team’s closer.

“I feel like where I pitched last year and where I’ll pitch this year that I can impact a game as much, or more, and I’m OK with that,” Perkins said earlier this spring. “I like coming into situations where a closer wouldn’t typically come in. It is a cliche, but I like to help out the team, and I think I can help out the team the most, for me, this way.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—Glen Perkins appeared to be on the outs with the
Minnesota Twins in 2010, his struggles on the mound compounded by a grievance he
filed against the team the previous season.

Two years later, Perkins is the one arm the Twins know they can count on in
the back end of their bullpen. The team signed the left-handed setup man to a
three-year extension on Thursday that is worth $10.3 million with a team option
for 2016.

“He has been a reliable reliever for us and has helped stabilize the back
end of our bullpen in the set-up role,” GM Terry Ryan said. “When we were
looking for someone to step up last year, it was Glen who seized the opportunity
and pitched the way we knew he could.”

Perkins emerged as a reliable late-inning reliever last season, going 4-4
with a 2.48 earned-run average in 65 appearances. He struck out 65 and walked 21
in 61 2/3 innings.

“Everything has changed over the last couple of years,” manager Ron
Gardenhire said earlier this spring. “He’s content. He understands more about
the game than he ever has. He understands what he wants out of the game more
than he ever did before.”

It was a breakout season that came as a surprise to some after a couple of
injury plagued years that included 2009, when Perkins and his agent filed a
grievance against the Twins for sending him to Triple-A Rochester after
activating him from the disabled list in August. Perkins thought he should have
remained on the major league roster and been sent on a rehab assignment instead.

He was converted from a starter to a reliever and grabbed a role as an
overpowering setup man last season. Now with closer Joe Nathan gone to Texas,
Matt Capps coming off of a disappointing 2011, starter Brian Duensing moving to
the bullpen from the rotation and Joel Zumaya out for the season with Tommy John
surgery, Perkins is the rock.

“He’s got the perfect situation. He’s living at home. He grew up a Twins
fan,” Gardenhire said. “Can’t get any better for him and I think it took a
while for him to realize how fortunate he was. That’s just being in the game and
seeing how other people handle it. He’s done an awful lot in this game already
and he’s got a lot more he can do, and he realizes that, believe me. I think he
really likes what he’s doing.”

With a healthy arm, the former University of Minnesota standout and native
of Stillwater, Minn., has seen his velocity jump a little and he is comfortable
this spring knowing that he has a role with the team from the start. There has
even been some talk about Perkins eventually becoming the team’s closer.

“I feel like where I pitched last year and where I’ll pitch this year that
I can impact a game as much, or more, and I’m OK with that,” Perkins said
earlier this spring. “I like coming into situations where a closer wouldn’t
typically come in. It is a cliche, but I like to help out the team, and I think
I can help out the team the most, for me, this way.”

The Minnesota Twins are looking forward to getting the 2012 season underway. Many memories were made in 2011 and plenty more will be created this upcoming season. Will this be the year the Twins surprise everyone and dominate the American League?

Opening Day at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins
Wikimedia Commons

Note: All start times Central

April 2012

Fri 6, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles, 2:05 p.m.

Sat 7, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles, 6:05 p.m.

Sun 8, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles, 12:35 p.m.

Mon 9, Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins, 3:10 p.m.

Wed 11, Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Thu 12, Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins, 12:10 p.m.

Fri 13, Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Sat 14, Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, 12:10 p.m.

Sun 15, Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, 1:10 p.m.

Mon 16, Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Tue 17, Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Wed 18, Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Thu 19, Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Fri 20, Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays, 6:10 p.m.

Sat 21, Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays, 6:10 p.m.

Sun 22, Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays, 12:40 p.m.

Mon 23, Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Tue 24, Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Wed 25, Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Fri 27, Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins, 7:10 p.m.

Sat 28, Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:10 p.m.

Sun 29, Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins, 1:10 p.m.

Mon 30, Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels, 9:05 p.m.

Sources:

All data provided by MLB.com

Paul Rados is a Cleveland based freelance sportswriter and Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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