MLB: Minnesota 3, St. Louis 1

ST. LOUIS, June 26 (UPI) -- Glen Perkins pushed Minnesota over the breakeven mark by allowing only four hits in seven innings Friday, boosting the Twins past St. Louis 3-1.

Perkins (3-4) gave up a two-out double in the first, escaped that inning and then faced the minimum number of batters through the next five frames. A two-out double by Rick Ankiel in the seventh drove in the Cardinals' only run.

Joe Nathan allowed a leadoff double in the ninth, but struck out two in recording his 18th save.

Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer both had an RBI and the Twins picked up an unearned run in the first when Justin Morneau dashed in from third on a two-out fielding error by Cardinals' third baseman Joe Thurston.

Adam Wainwright (8-5) absorbed the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits in seven innings.

The Twins improved to 38-37 for the season and have been either at .500 or within a game either way for the past two weeks. They have not been better than one game over breakeven all season and their low point came May 20 when they were 18-23.