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MINNEAPOLIS -- The script for Glen Perkins hasnt always gone so smoothly. Nike Shoes Air Max 90 Womens . 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. Nike Air Max 90 Grey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league. Nike Air Max 90 White . The 49ers, 6-2 and riding a five-game winning streak following the bye week, also waived cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and activated cornerback Eric Wright from the reserve/non-football injury list. Manningham made 42 receptions for 449 yards and one touchdown in 12 games and 10 starts last season before injuring his left knee in a loss at Seattle Dec. http://www.airmax90outletonline.com/ . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p.MIAMI -- Ryan Zimmerman made up for lost time and immediately tested the injury that resulted in a lengthy absence. Zimmerman returned to the lineup and had two hits, including an RBI triple, in his return to the lineup and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 Saturday night. "It was fun to be out there and be part of the team and be out with the guys in a really good win," Zimmerman said. Zimmerman, who missed 55 games because of a hamstring injury, had his run-scoring triple to key Washingtons three-run seventh inning. Asdrubal Caberas RBI triple tied the score at 2-2 and chased Miami starter Jarred Cosart, and Denard Spans single off reliever Mike Dunn put the Nationals ahead. Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann (13-5) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out four and stayed in the game and finished the inning despite getting hit by a line drive from Casey McGehee to start the sixth. Second baseman Cabrera retrieved the ball and threw McGehee out. "It happened so fast," Zimmermann said. "I saw the ball coming and thought that it was stopped. I just tried turning and lift my shoulder. I was lucky enough that it hit my shoulder and not my face. "Its a little sore -- pretty tight right now but it will be fine. Its not going to affect me." Nationals manager Matt Williams and assistant trainer Steve Gober immediately raced to the mound to check on Zimmermann. "He was pitching well, he could certainly go longer but not with something like that," Williams said. "Were not going to take any chances there. "Its scary but I think hes going to come out of it fine." Aaron Barrett and Tyler Clippard pitched perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, and Drew Storen gave up one-out singles to Marcel Ozuna and Justin Bour in the ninth before he retired pinch hitter Garrett Jones on a game-ending double play for his ninth save in 12 opportunities. Cosart (4-3) was charged with all three runs and gave up nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out two. "I wasnt sharp, I wasnt down," Cosart said. "Throw a bad pitch, a lot of balls in the middle of the plate. Theyve won 90 games for a reason and thats what theyre supposed to do with those pitches.&quuot; NL East champion Washington moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for best record in the league. Nike Air Max 90 Blue. . The loss eliminated Miami from wild-card contention. "Im proud of these guys," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Weve battled through a lot of adversity - theyve given me everything they have every single day. "Losing (right fielder Giancarlo Stanton) was a big blow -- a big blow to our team and to our offence and to our lineup." Miami avoided a bigger inning in the seventh when Zimmerman was thrown out at home on a fielders choice. The Nationals appealed call but the video review upheld the call that catcher Jeff Mathis tagged Zimmermans left leg before it crossed home plate. "The ball, when Im on third, it was instincts and I go and I went," Zimmerman said. "I probably shouldnt have gone. Everythings fine nothing happened but looking back, it wasnt the smartest thing to do." Bours RBI single in the first put the Marlins on the scoreboard, and they doubled their lead in the fourth when Reed Johnson doubled to centre and scored on two throwing errors on the play. ZIMMERMANN STARTS The Nationals won their 10th consecutive game in a game started by Zimmermann. ROVING HARPER Zimmerman started in left field as Williams gave Bryce Harper the night off. With Zimmerman expected to play many of the Nationals remaining games in left field, Williams plans on utilizing Harper in the other outfield positions. "Harps got the ability to play all three," Williams said. "He may move around a little bit the next two, three games in the outfield to give Zim a chance." UP NEXT Stephen Strasburg (12-11, 3.34) will start for the Nationals in the series finale on Sunday. The Marlins will go with struggling Nathan Eovaldi (6-12, 4.48). There was speculation that Miami was going to shut down Eovaldi for the remainder of the season. Eovaldi, 24, has lost his last six decisions and has surrendered 26 earned runs in 35 innings during his winless stretch. "We believe in this guy and his stuff," Redmond said. "Hes pitched a lot of innings this year and whether hes getting a bit tired or whatever but thats part of being a major league starter and pitching 200 innings." ' ' '