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(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 12-12

Up Next: Royals (1:10 CT, 5/3)

1. Perkins Hitting a Bump

In his first three starts of the season, Glen Perkins couldn't get much better; the lefty pitched eight innings each time out and allowed only four runs in those total 24 innings of work. Start number four was a step back as Perkins struggled to get through five innings. Nonetheless, the first month of the season was a resounding success for what had been the team's fourth starter.

The second month of the season for Perkins has not started quite like the first. Perkins took the mound for the first time in May, and the struggles from his recent trip to the mound continued. In six innings of work, the Royals pounded tens hits off the lefty along with five runs. Perkins' problem wasn't a lack of strikes, but a lack of hitting his spots and getting the ball down in the zone. 

After five starts Perkins is still one of the team's best pitchers; he'll need to work past the recent bump in the road however if he hopes to keep that in tact.

2. What We've Missed

As each of the first 22 games were played, it was known that one of the team's best players, Joe Mauer, was missing. Despite that, Mauer's recent return has drastically shown exactly what the lineup and the team in general has missed. Mauer has stung the ball everytime he's made contact; even when he's been retired. 

While Jose Morales filled in nicely and better than anybody could have hoped, Mauer has made the team look like an entirely different group. The Twins scored seven runs in his first game in the lineup, and seven again in his second. He's hit the ball in clutch situations, and he's gotten on base to start rallies. 

While the offense has taken a step forward, the pitching has not. Mauer is known just as much for his offense as he is for his defense and ability to manage a pitching staff. His return though has not changed the results at least two games in. The less-than-stellar outings likely have little to do with Mauer however, and more to do with the starters leaving pitches up in the zone.

3. Mental Mistakes

The Twins on at least three occasions in game two made mistakes on the bases. Once Alexi Casilla tried to advance to third when Morneau struck out on a pitch in the dirt. Another time Nick Punto attempted to advance to third on a line drive to left. And in one other instance, Joe Crede attempted to turn a single to right into a double and was thrown out by a few strides. 

There is nothing wrong with aggressive base running, but in some cases, especially with less than two outs, it's better to be, if nothing else, a little more cautious. 

The mistakes weren't only made on the bases however; they were also made by the infield and, while an opinion, by manager Ron Gardenhire. 

Nick Punto made a throwing error, but nobody is perfect, and that wasn't his mistake. In the top half of the eighth, with one out and a runner on second, Punto fielded a grounder and allowed the runner to advance to third while he threw across the diamond for the out. That very runner scored on a mistake just moments later as Alexi Casilla let a grounder roll by on a seemingly lazy play. Again, nobody is perfect, and errors are part of the game, but Casilla seems to be taking his poor offensive performances into the field as he's made similar plays in two straight games.

Gardenhire's mistake is strictly opinion, and involves the use of the bullpen. In the seventh inning, Gardy went to the poorly performing Luis Ayala in a one-run game. Ayala allowed the Royals to tie the game almost instantly, and the next inning allowed a double to the very runner that scored the go-ahead run. Gardenhire has done a good job this season with the bullpen, but his use of Ayala, whether it's to give him confidence or not, has been questionable.