(Sports Network) - A return to the friendly confines of the Metrodome seems to have enabled the Minnesota Twins to break out offensively. The club will attempt to maintain its recent firepower as it continues a four-game series with the Texas Rangers this evening.

Minnesota's bats were especially potent in last night's meeting with the Rangers, as the Twins racked up nine unanswered runs over the first three innings en route to an 11-4 rout.

Joe Mauer led Minnesota's onslaught by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Delmon Young, Alexi Casilla and Mike Lamb all knocked in a pair of runners for the Twins, who halted a two-game losing streak with Monday's 7-6, 12-inning triumph over the Rangers.

Glen Perkins (1-1) was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst, with the young left-hander earning his first career major league win after allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits through 6 1/3 innings of work.

Texas starter Doug Mathis (1-1) lasted just 2 1/3 frames and was tagged for nine runs (6 earned) and eight hits. He also walked four batters prior to his early exit.

Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and German Duran each had two hits and an RBI for the losing Rangers, while Milton Bradley extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the second inning.

The loss was the third in a row for Texas, which had won seven consecutive series prior to this one.

Minnesota, on the other hand, had scored just eight times over three meetings with Colorado at hitter-friendly Coors Field over the weekend. The Twins will take their swings tonight against journeyman Sidney Ponson, who's pitched pretty well for the Rangers since being called up from the minors in late April.

Ponson went 2-0 and posted an excellent 1.33 earned run average over his first three starts since being inserted into Texas' injury-plagued rotation, but has been hit hard in each of his last two outings. The Aruba native yielded seven runs (3 earned) and nine hits in a five-inning no-decision against Houston on Friday, five days after he was touched for six runs and walked five batters over 5 1/3 frames in a home matchup with Oakland.

The 31-year-old spent part of the 2007 campaign as a member of the Twins. Ponson made seven starts for Minnesota last year and went 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA before being released.

He has enjoyed great career success against his former club, however. In 14 career appearances (13 starts) versus the Twins, Ponson is an impressive 9-2 with a 2.56 ERA.

Minnesota will send out rookie Nick Blackburn, who surrendered five runs and 11 hits over six innings in his only career start against Texas, a no decision at Rangers Ballpark on April 25. Since that mound trip, the right-hander has gone 3-1 in four starts and worked at least six innings in each of those games.

Blackburn comes in off a very sharp effort at Colorado on Friday. The 25-year- old held the Rockies to two runs and six hits and did not issue a walk during his seven-inning stint, helping the Twins post a 4-2 victory.

Minnesota has now taken 10 of its last 13 encounters with the Rangers and is 7-1 against Texas at the Metrodome over that span. The Rangers did win two of three tests versus the Twins in Arlington last month, however.