Fri Jul 18 23:24:42 2008

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Perkins powers Twins; Rangers blanked for first time this season

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Glen Perkins was brilliant on the mound to win his fifth straight decision, and Delmon Young went 4-for-4, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the Texas Rangers, 6-0, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome.

Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher each had two hits and two runs driven in for the Twins, who have won four of five overall. Perkins (7-2) lasted six frames and yielded just three hits. Craig Breslow, Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser each threw a perfect inning of relief.

Michael Young went 1-for-3 to extend his hit streak to 16 games for the Rangers, who were shut out for the first time all season and have now alternated wins and losses for the past six games. Ian Kinsler went 0-for-4, snapping his hit streak at 25 games, which is three short of the franchise record set by Gabe Kapler in 2000.

Josh Hamilton, who hit 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday, went hitless in four at-bats.

Kevin Millwood (6-6) took the loss as he was touched for five runs on 11 hits while striking out six and walking only one over 6 1/3 innings.

The Rangers activated third baseman Hank Blalock, who went 0-for-2 with a walk, from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. Blalock had been on the DL for nearly 12 weeks due to a torn left hamstring and surgery to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. The 27-year-old suffered the hamstring injury while running the bases in Texas' 6-5 victory over the Twins on April 25.

Justin Morneau hit a one-out double in the fourth inning. Kubel then lined out, but Delmon Young belted a single to put runners on the corners. Buscher followed with an RBI single to right.

The Rangers threatened in the sixth inning as Michael Young worked a one-out walk and took second as Perkins uncorked a wild pitch. Hamilton then grounded out, which moved Michael Young to third, and Milton Bradley earned a free pass. The rally proved to be moot though, as Marlon Byrd grounded into a force play to end the frame.

The Twins made it 2-0 in the sixth inning. Kubel clubbed a one-out double and moved to third as Delmon Young followed with a single. Buscher then struck out, but Brendan Harris laced an RBI single to right-center.

Minnesota broke the game open, 6-0, in the seventh. The bases were loaded after Alexi Casilla and Joe Mauer singled and Morneau walked, Jamey Wright was then called in to replace Millwood on the hill. Kubel hit a two-run single to right before Young and Buscher followed RBI singles.

Game Notes

The Twins have won 20 of their last 26 contests, including 14 of 16 tilts at the Metrodome during that outstanding run. For the season, the Twins have amassed an excellent 33-18 mark on their home grounds...Perkins has five victories over his last six starts and hasn't lost in nine outings since a May 30 setback to the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old has also held the opposition to three runs or less in each of his last eight mound trips...Prior to the game, the Rangers purchased the contract of catcher Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Oklahoma, optioned right-handed pitcher Kameron Loe to Oklahoma, and designated right-handed pitcher Joselo Diaz for assignment.