Joe Nathan’s ninth inning was the talk of the clubhouse after Friday’s 3-1 win. After striking Albert Pujols, Nathan took a shot from Ryan Ludwick in the gut - literally.

The ball went inside Nathan’s jersey.

“It was inside,” he said. “I actually turned to look the guy at second back without the ball in my hand. I was a split second from running it over and it finally came loose.”

Nathan tossed the ball to first, then struck out Rick Ankiel to end the game.

SLOPPY CENTRAL

Is it just me, or does the N.L. Central stink?

Seriously, the Twins have played everyone except Cincinnati, and none of these teams have impressed me.

PITCHING TO PUJOLS

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t even flinch when he decided to let Nathan pitch to Pujols - but he couldn’t enjoy it.

“It was nerve-racking in the dugout,” Gardenhire said. “I walked about 10 miles up and down watching that. We said coming into this you don’t want him up there where he can beat you or doing something crazy. Very intense.”

The Twins also pitched to Barry Bonds when they visited what was called Pac Bell Park in 2003. Bonds made them pay once - with a walk-off RBI single off of Juan Rincon the middle of the three games that kept them from sweeping the series.

Gardenhire was wound up pretty good as he talked about the decision.

“Not with my closer,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the game and for Albert Pujols. You try to get him out there. I learned that from Tom Kelly a long time ago.

“Nathan’s going to go out there. I put the ball in his hand. If he pitches around him, then he pitches around him on his own. I’m sure he likes the matchup, likes the challenge. It’s dangerous, but that’s t he way the game is supposed to be played.”

WHAT WAS THE SIGN?

Glen Perkins batted with one out and two on in the sixth inning. It was time to get a bunt down.

He fouled off his first attempt, then took a ball. With the Cardinals infield rushing in, Perkins took a rip at the third pitch and missed.

Gardy let you swing?

“You know what,” Perkins said. “I’ve got one guy telling me to swing, one guy telling me to bunt. And another guy telling me to slash. I’ve never been that confused in my life.”

Perkins then bunted the runners over.

I know signs come from different people (the bench coach, the first base coach, believe it or not) in order to throw off the other team. And I’m sure the Twins were worried that Tony LaRussa was in other dugout, trying to steal their signs.

But three different people?

City officials this week asked the Cardinals to move the start time on Saturday and Sunday to the evening out of concerns about the heat. The Cardinals and MLB said no go. So we’ll be here tomorrow when the high is expected to hit 100.

Twins strength and conditioning coach Perry Castellano has ordered every player to bring a bottle of water on the field during warmups. “Dehydration!” he said.

Nick Punto’s ribs are still sore, but he took 50 swings off the tee and said he feels better. He’s willing to come off the bench in an emergency but said he’s more focused on getting back on the field Sunday.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire still is thinking about starting Michael Cuddyer at second sometime this weekend. That would allow him to get the other outfielders on the field.

Bobby Keppel played high school ball in the area and will have about 40 friends and family at the game. Get this: Keppel is listed at 6-5, but he was the point guard on his high school hoops team. The front line went like 6-10, 6-8 and 6-7.

You won’t believe who the home plate umpire is today: It’s Todd Tichenor, who threw out Mike Redmond, Jason Varitek, Ron Gardenhire and Terry Francona on May 28 at the Dome.

Sorry the lineups are late. They weren’t out when we got to the press box, then I decided to watch a little batting practice. And the trip from the field to the pressbox is the longest in ball.

Twins (37-37)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brendan Harris, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, LF
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Joe Crede, 3B
8. Matt Tolbert, 2B
9. Glen Perkins, LHP

Cardinals (40-34)

1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Colby Rasmus, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick, RF
5. Rick Ankiel, LF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Joe Thurston, 3B
8. Adam Wainwright, RHP
9. Tyler Greene, SS

It’s been a busy week already - and not just because the short-season leagues have started

Danny Valencia, the Twins’ top third base prospect, and righthander Jeff Manship have been promoted to Class AAA Rochester. Valencia batted .284 with 7 homers and 29 RBI at Class AA New Britian while Manship was 6-4 with a 4.28 ERA.

Valencia, the favorite to open 2010 at third base for the Twins, is steady with the glove and projects to hit for some power. He made a good impression with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire during spring training.

He’s improved a little since joining New Britain:

             G         AB      2B    3B    HR    RBI    BB    SO       AVG    OBP    SLG

2008:  69      266       18     2      10       32     18     70       .289     .334    .485

2009    57      218        14   4        7        29     31     40       .284     .373    .482

He struggled when he first got to New Britain last year but finished well and carried that into this season. The increase in walks and decrease in strikeouts is noteoworthy.

Manship struggled some early this season but had reeled off five straight quality starts when promoted. In three June starts, Manship was 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA.

WHAT ABOUT HUGHES?

It will be interesting to see what the Twins will do with third baseman Luke Hughes when he returns from a strained oblique muscle. He injured himself in late May then aggravated the injury on June 6. He’s currently rehabbing in Fort Myers Fla.

Jim Rantz, the Twins minor league director, said the plan all along was to get Valencia to Rochester before the year ended. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire thinks Hughes looks better at second base. But that’s where Alexi Casilla is.

Casilla, by the way, has missed a few games with a groin muscle strain. 

OTHER MOVES

Righthander Kyle Waldrop and infielder Daniel Berg have been moved  to New Britain to replace Manship and Valencia. Juan Portes, whose bat has come alive this year, will move to third base. Portes is batting .333 at New Britain. He’s played various positions in his career, but Rantz said Portes can hold his own in the field and is not a DH prospect.

OTHER STUFF

The numbers don’t show it, but Rantz said righthander Deolis Guerra is making some progress after changing his delivery and dealing with a drop in velocity. Rantz said Guerra’s velocity is up to around 90-91 miles an hour and could get better. Guerra hit 95 on the gun as an 18-year old but had no movement, leading to the change in his delivery.

A few Class A Fort Myers players left Tuesday’s game because of the heat. The temperature was 96 with a heat index of 110. Rantz said an umpire had to leave the Gulf Cost League game.

Shortstop Tyler Ladendorf was 4 for 4 on Tuesday in Elizabethton’s season opener. He was a second-round pick in last year’s draft after a prolific junior college career but batted .204 for the Gulf Coast League Twins. “Sometimes you have to give them a mulligan that first year when they are getting used to wood bats,” Rantz said. Ladendorf could end up at Class A Beloit for the season is over.

FINALLY

There continue to be whispers that Ben Revere will be moved to second base - but Rantz shot it down. “I don’t know who is talking about that but it ain’t us,”  Rantz said.

The sense we’re getting is that the Twins will juggle their bullpen this week after watching Sean Henn and Luis Ayala struggle in recent outings. Bobby Keppel has been mentioned as a possibility, but I wonder if they will consider this pitcher too. He’s already on the 40-man roster.

Heard that Bill Smith will be in Rochester this week to check on prospects.

I’m headed to KFAN studios right now for the weekly baseball segment at 11:05 a.m. But I’m also filling in for Dan Cole from Noon to 3 p.m. So if you have Twins questions, I might have answers.

In addition to the Twins, we’ll keep up with the finish of the U.S. Open, which has become a free-for-all. Someone is bound to ask a football question. And I might bring up the other kind of football, as Team USA has reached the semis of the Confederations Cup in South Africa - shockingly.Â

Twins infielder Nick Punto left tonight’s game because of bruised left ribs. He was replaced by Matt Tolbert.

The only thing I can think of is that Punto dived into first base in the fifth inning. We’ll check on it after the game.

Michael Russo is here and wants me to call it an upper body injury…. 

Back to regular programming….

This is one of those days when it’s tough to drive downtown for indoor baseball. Warm. Sunny. Everyone is out. The Twin Cities at its best - but we’re in the Dome.

People are tracking how many games would have been delayed by rain this year if we were already outside. How about tracking the kick-butt days when sunblock is needed. I write that fully aware that my sunblock number would be something like 2.5.

Anyway….

Joe Mauer took a ball off the inside of his right knee last night but stayed  in the game. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told Mauer to let him know if he wants a DH day. He said he would consider starting Jose Morales behind the plate if that happened.

Righthanded hitters are batting .424 off Brian Moehler, so we’ll see. Headed down to find the lineup right now.

Update; Joe Crede is not starting today so he can rest some bumps ad bruises. He did take batting practice and is available off the bench. Gardy said Crede was going to get either today or tomorrow off.

Mauer’s knee isn’t a problem, so he’s back in the lineup.

Brian Moehler is making his first start against the Twins since 2002, when he was with the Tigers.

Astros (30-35)

1. Michael Bourn, CF
2, Jeff Keppinger, 3B
3. Miguel Tejada, SS
4. Carlos Lee, DH
5. Lance Berkman, 1B
6. Hunter Pence, RF
7. Ivan Rodriguez, C
8. Darin Erstad, LF
9. Matt Kata, 2B

Pitching: RHP Brian Moehler

Twins (35-34)

1. Brendan Harris, SS
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Brian Buscher, 3B
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Pitching: Scott Baker