Left-hander Glen Perkins spent several minutes talking with his pitching coach and his good friend and fellow starter Kevin Slowey on Monday night after Slowey was battered for 13 runs. When the group discussion broke up, the message was simple: On Tuesday, the Blue Jays needed to be challenged on the inner half of the plate.
Perkins has never had a problem with that task, and Tuesday was no different. In each of his two starts this season, Perkins has lasted eight innings. In his first start he suffered a 1-0, tough-luck loss against Seattle. On Tuesday, he left with the game tied 2-2 and received a no-decision. Still, Perkins and his manager couldn't be more pleased with his early-season results.
"I've never started a season like this," said Perkins, now 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA. "This is the first time in my career that I wasn't fighting for spot. I was able to go into spring training and get ready for a season, rather than be ready in spring training and deal with disappointment and things like that. I think I was able to just get after it in spring training and throw my pitches and get ready for a season. That's probably where this is coming from. I'm just comfortable. I know that I have a spot and I can do my thing."
On Tuesday, Perkins worked his pitches all around the strike zone, but he concentrated heavily on the inner half.
"If you look back on every guy I faced, at least every guy in their lineup, I moved him," Perkins said. "Slowey made a lot of good pitches Monday, but they were a lot of good pitches in the same spot. (The Blue Jays) started getting out there and being able to hit those balls right down the middle. Just to be able to back them up and make them move their feet, stand them up, or make them jump, you make them uncomfortable. I'm definitely not trying to hit guys, but you make them uncomfortable."
TWINS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 (11 innings): Minnesota's bullpen pitched three scoreless innings after LHP Glen Perkins handed over the ball in the ninth, and after grounding into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the sixth, 3B Joe Crede's hit a walk-off double in the 11th inning.
