Rangers drop third straight
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

AP photo OUCH! - Texas' Milton Bradley (above) is unable to get out of the way of a pitch from Minnesota's Glen Perkins in the eighth inning of Tuesday's game in Minneapolis. The Twins beat the Rangers again, this time 11-4, in the second game of the four-game series. It continues tonight.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Not making Minnesota's opening day roster might have been the best thing to happen to Glen Perkins.

Perkins pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Twins to a 11-4 win over Texas, the Rangers' thirdstraight loss.

"It's certainly a relief to get that first win," said Perkins.

The four-game series resumes tonight with game 3, roughly a 7 p.m. start.

The Twins, meanwhile, were relieved to get their offense going. They roughed up Texas starter Doug Mathis (1-1) for nine runs in 2 1/3 innings. Mathis made his first major league start since the Rangers purchased his contract from Triple-A Oklahoma on May 11 to replace the injured Kevin Millwood. Alexi Casilla, Mike Lamb, and Delmon Young each had two RBIs.

A night after outlasting the Rangers in 12 innings, the Twins took control of the game early, scoring nine runs by the

third inning.

"Obviously you want to get out there and score some runs for your pitcher," Joe Mauer said. "We've been struggling to get guys in for the last

couple of weeks. So

tonight it was important: keep attacking the zone."

Minnesota jumped on Mathis scoring two runs in the first. Carlos Gomez led off with a triple, Casilla drove him in with a single and Joe Mauer followed with a double.

The Twins put the game away in the third when they scored seven runs, sending 12 batters to the plate. Mathis watched 10 consecutive Twins reach base. He gave up five hits and two walks and Ian Kinsler committed a costly error at second during the stretch.

Franklyn German relieved Mathis after 70 pitches, walked in a run and gave up a sacrifice fly as the Twins took a comfortable 9-0 lead.

Perkins (1-1) gave up six hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The Rangers finally got through to Perkins when they loaded the bases in the seventh. With one out, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and German Duran hit back-to-back RBI singles to chase Perkins, who received a loud ovation.

Kinsler singled in another run in the seventh before Brian Bass struck out Michael Young and induced Josh Hamilton into a ground out to end the inning.

Minnesota made it 11-3 in the seventh when Young's RBI triple scored Jason Kubel, and Lamb followed with a sacrifice fly.

Texas added a run in the ninth when Hamilton's infield single scored Kinsler.

"It was just one of those nights," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We've got to take our shower and let that one go down the drain.

Texas didn't have an extra-base hit for the first time this season.

Washington said Hank Blalock, normally a 3B, played 1B during a simulated game to get practice for the position when he returns this weekend.