KANSAS CITY — OK, that was intense.

It was strange walking into the winning clubhouse tonight thinking, someone in here might snap. The Twins won 4-3 in 12 innings, extending the Royals’ losing streak to nine.

Imagine how the losers felt.

Manager Ron Gardenhire opened his press conference by saying, “Uh, I guess … it’s a win. We won the ballgame, and we kept playing. But it was sure disappointing there in the ninth.”

Next, we needed Delmon Young’s thoughts, and some interviews with him can be like pulling teeth. I give him credit. He made it easier this time, answering every question, and not just with five-word answers. This despite the big misplay and the 0-for-6 night at the plate.

“I was running down the line, and I thought I got into foul territory,” Young said. “So I just gave it a shot, but in that situation I should just play it on the hop and just throw it back in, with the closer on the mound.”

Joe Nathan seemed to pick his words very carefully.

“We got the win, and that’s all that matters,” he said.

There were a few more questions, none of them about the dugout exchange with Delmon. That’s on me. But let’s just say there were strong hints that Nathan was in no mood to call out a teammate publicly.

Gardy met with Delmon afterward, just to make sure the lessons sunk in. I left the clubhouse believing this team will get past this, like a speed-bump. Seems so strange having to write that after a win.

KANSAS CITY — The Royals take an eight-game losing streak into tonight’s game against the Twins, but tonight Kansas City will send Brian Bannister to the mound.

Bannister is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA in four career starts against the Twins, including a three-hit complete game on April 13. Here are the lineups, with a look at how the Minnesotans have fared against Bannister for their career.

Update (5:45 p.m.): The Twins will flip-flop Boof Bonser and Glen Perkins this time through the rotation. Perkins will stay on regular rest and pitch Friday against the Yankees. Bonser will be pushed to Saturday, which just happens to be the same day Scott Baker makes his next rehab start, this time for Class A Fort Myers.

The writing appears to be on the wall for Bonser. He’s likely headed to the bullpen once Baker returns from the DL. Bonser is out of options, so he’ll go to the bullpen instead of the minors.

Saturday sounds like the new target date for Nick Punto to be activated from the DL. He has had 19 at-bats in simulated and extended spring training games and is scheduled to play in another seven-inning game Wednesday.

His wife, Natalie, is due to give birth to the couple’s first child on Friday, so he’ll return to Minnesota on Thursday evening. Saturday would be the soonest he’d rejoin the Twins.

Twins (25-25)

1. Carlos Gomez, CF (0-for-4)

2. Alexi Casilla, 2B (1-for-5)

3. Joe Mauer, C (1-for-6)

4. Justin Morneau, 1B (4-for-13, 1 RBI)

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF (0-for-5)

6. Jason Kubel, DH (3-for-10, 2 RBI)

7. Delmon Young, LF (0-for-6)

8. Mike Lamb, 3B (0-for-2)

9. Brendan Harris, SS (0-for-5)

Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn

Royals (21-30)

1. David DeJesus, RF

2. Joey Gathright, CF

3. Alex Gordon, 3B

4. Jose Guillen, LF

5. Miguel Olivo, DH

6. Mark Teahen, 1B

7. John Buck, C

8. Esteban German, 2B

9. Tony Pena, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Brian Bannister

Kauffman Stadium. First pitch: 7:05 p.m.

We explored the Twins’ power outage for today’s editions. Reusse gave his thoughts here and here. One more point. Here are some other notable home run totals from around the majors:

Prince Fielder: 6

Miguel Tejada: 5

Mark Teixeira: 5

Travis Hafner: 4

Gary Sheffield: 3

Jimmy Rollins: 3

Troy Glaus: 2

J.J. Hardy: 2

Jim Edmonds: 1

Victor Martinez: 0

Oh, and for those keep scoring at home, it’s Twins 29, Chase Utley 16.

Some quick off-day notes:

(*) Twins pitcher Scott Baker, who is on the disabled list with a strained right groin, pitched five pain-free innings in an extended spring training game today in Florida.

Baker allowed four hits and one earned run, with four strikeouts and no walks. Twins GM Bill Smith said Baker will be checked out Tuesday, but the reports were good, and Baker will likely pitch in another extended spring game Saturday.

(*) Smith said Nick Punto (strained left hamstring) played five innings in an extended spring game Sunday and had six at-bats. The report said Punto was healthy but rusty, Smith said.

Manager Ron Gardenhire thought it was possible Punto could be activated from the DL this week, while the team is in Kansas City, but Smith said that won’t happen.

Punto’s wife, Natalie, is due to give birth to the couple’s first child Friday. Punto will continue his rehab in Floriday, fly back to Minnesota for the birth, and the Twins will see how he progresses.

(*) Francisco Liriano gave up six runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings today for Class AAA Rochester. He walked one and struck out four.

I don’t think it was a step back. If you read the play-by-play from his outing, you see that he got two quick outs in the fifth inning before Charlotte loaded the bases and Brad Eldred hit a grand slam.

The Tigers are loaded with talented righthanded hitters: Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Pudge Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria.

For all of their struggles this year, they entered Sunday 6-2 against lefthanded starters compared to 15-26 against righthanders.

That’s why it was so impressive, when Twins lefty Glen Perkins held them to one run on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings.

“You better pitch inside against these guys or they’ll just kill you,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “And I thought he did a very good job of just setting the tone early in the ballgame of using the inner half of the plate.”