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MINNEAPOLIS -- The script for Glen Perkins hasnt always gone so smoothly. Sure, there have been hiccups. Life is never perfect. Rare, though, are the occurrences in sports that come together as marvelously as this for the Minnesota closer: taking the mound for the American League All-Star team and pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning in front of his roaring, adoring home fans. When Perkins jogged out of the bullpen on Tuesday night at Target Field, he was taken aback by how loud the crowd became. "I wasnt fighting back tears, but it was an overwhelming moment to hear," Perkins said. "It was a moment like that where you realize why you play the game and what makes the game so fun, and its the fans in the stands." His All-Star status and salary of more than $4 million this season put him in the societal elite, but in many ways Perkins is a lot alike many of those fans in the stands. He grew up in a Twin Cities suburb, Stillwater, and lives year-round in Minnesota, a rarity for Twins players. Boating and fishing are two of his favourite pastimes. Hes regularly on social media, with a sharp sense of humour and down-to-earth perspective that further endear him to the masses. Minutes after finishing one of his shakiest saves of the season, at Milwaukee last month, Perkins posted on Twitter: "I just did my best Ron Davis impression," alluding to the Twins closer of the mid-1980s prone to wild pitches and blown leads. Perkins has proven to be far more effective than Davis, though, putting himself on track to approach Joe Nathan franchise-leading all-time saves total. At age 31, under contract through at least 2017, Perkins isnt going anywhere. The Twins have an option on his deal for 2018 that would be a market bargain at $6.5 million if he stays healthy and productive. Perkins was the one who approached the front office during spring training about an extension, willing to take a contract that couldve been richer. He started the year as the 17th-highest paid closer in the majors. Thats fine by him. Becoming an All-Star for his hometown Twins has been beyond his grandest goals. "Hearing how loud the fans were, it makes me want to get to the playoffs," said Perkins, who made one appearance in the 2006 first-round series as a rookie but wasnt on the post-season roster in either 2009 or 2010. The Twins went 5-2 on their road trip before the All-Star break and have generally been more competent and competitive than their last three teams that each lost 96 games or more. Still, theyre 10 1-2 games out of first place. Their starting pitchers, despite progress by Kyle Gibson and the upgrade with Phil Hughes, have a 4.86 ERA, the third-worst mark in the majors. Veterans on expiring contracts like Suzuki, left fielder Josh Willingham and starting pitcher Kevin Correia could be traded in the coming weeks. The players, of course, are opposed. "I know how the business side of it is, the long-term stuff," second baseman Brian Dozier said. "But its our job to make those decisions hard for them. To be honest with you, I want to contend. I believe we can. Weve got the people to do it. Im not saying we dont need a couple of extra pieces, but I think were going to be just fine. We just have to get on a roll." The Twins start their post-break schedule with 10 straight games at Target Field. Manager Ron Gardenhire joked last week about being home enough to actually help his wife, Carol, mow the lawn. Danny Santana will come off the disabled list Friday, and ideally Joe Mauer will join him soon after. Perhaps prospects Trevor May or Alex Meyer will get a promotion from Triple-A to boost the rotation. "We think if we can get healthy and pitching again, thats pretty good. We still have to find some consistency there. Our offence, I think that will come if we get all the pieces back we hope for," Gardenhire said. One place the manager isnt worried about is the back of the bullpen. Perkins has that taken care of. Caleb Sturgis Jersey . Stiverne stopped Chris Arreola in the sixth round Saturday night, claiming the WBC heavyweight title belt vacated by Vitali Klitschko. Virgil Green Jersey . The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made. By releasing Bailey, the Broncos would open up cap space with the 12-time Pro Bowl player scheduled to make around $10 million next season. http://www.officiallosangeleschargersfootball.com/authentic-jason-verrett-jersey-womens . Louis against the Blues. The Canucks picked up their second straight victory in the swings opener on Tuesday in Calgary before getting routed in Minnesota last night, 5-1. Darius Philon Jersey . JOHNS, N. Mike Williams Jersey . -- The road to the Masters got off to a bumpy start Sunday for Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the Honda Classic with what he said was a lower back injury. NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators have been playing better recently, yet have only a couple of hard-fought points to show for their work. The effort paid off once they got back home. Mattias Ekholms first NHL goal proved to be the game winner as the Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Tuesday night for their first victory in four games. David Legwand had a goal and an assist, and Shea Weber added two assists for the Predators, who have earned points in five of six games. "It was good the guys got rewarded," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We had a good game plan going in. We stayed with it and converted on a couple chances. Five-on-five I think we outscored them 3-1." Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, which has lost two of three. Nashville returned home from a trip in which the Predators lost all three games despite going to overtime twice. The Predators took control against the Sharks, scoring three goals in the second period. Nashville is undefeated in regulation this season when scoring at least three times. "Everything is so crucial right now," Nashville defenceman Kevin Klein said. "In our three prior games, we played really good games, but we lost two in overtime and one really close one. Its one of those things where all of the points help right now. Weve been playing a really good solid team game for the most part." The banged-up Sharks came into Nashville to wrap up their three-game trip, following a shootout win in Chicago on Sunday. The excitement of that win was tempered because forward Logan Couture is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday for what is believed to be a hand injury. Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he didnt think his club was good enough in its first game without Couture, and added that the leadership group has to step up, starting with the coaches and followed by the captain and assistants. "They have to be elite, and we werent at that level tonight," McLellan said. The Predators took a 1-0 lead when Legwand scored his seventh of the seasonn with a wrist shot from the right circle at 3:35.dddddddddddd Ekholm was called for his second delay of game penalty in two games when he put the puck over the glass. The Sharks took advantage to tie it when Pavelski tipped in a shot from Dan Boyle at 6:49. Ekholm made up for his penalty just 27 seconds later when he whirled and flipped the puck past goalie Antti Niemi to put Nashville back ahead 2-1. "Its really nice to see him get his first goal and respond the way he did," Trotz said. McLellan called Nashvilles next goal a blown call by officials. Roman Josi, named to Switzerlands Olympic team on Monday, scored with a wrist shot off an assist from Weber at 11:30. The puck found the net just after Predators forward Colin Wilson went down in the crease beside Niemi, blocking the goalie. But the goal stood for a 3-1 lead. "I understand mistakes because I make a lot of them behind the bench, but when you get an explanation from a group of people and it didnt happen, its disappointing," McLellan said. "There is also protocol to follow in our league which is that you get together and you discuss it, and that didnt happen, either." That goal wound up as the winner. San Jose outshot Nashville 11-5 in the third and got within 3-2 when Marleau tipped in a shot from in front past Marek Mazanec at 18:38. The Sharks then took their timeout with 44.5 seconds remaining but couldnt force overtime. "You have to live with it," Pavelski said. "At the end of the day, that cant bury us, but it did tonight." NOTES: Nashville is 17-0-3 when scoring at least three goals. ... The Predators are 16-1-4 in games in which they score first. ... Nashville F Patric Hornqvist left in the third period with a lower body injury. He is day to day. ... The Sharks scratched F Tyler Kennedy (flu). ... Pavelski has scored in nine of 14 games and has 14 points in that stretch. ... The Predators have gotten points in 11 of their last 13 games against San Jose. ... Josi has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in his last 15 games. 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