"Lost amid the euphoria over the Twins' starting pitching has been Matt Capps' return to form. On Saturday, the right-hander recorded his third save in as many days in Minnesota's 1-0 victory over San Diego at Target Field.

During the Twins' 13-2 run since June 2, Capps is 1-0 with four saves and a 1.29 earned-run average. He pitched one inning in each of the past three Twins victories, including a perfect ninth Saturday at Target Field.

"Physically, I felt as good today as yesterday," he said. "Legs are a little tired, a little wobbly, but that's kind of to be expected. But I felt pretty good."

Minnesota's starters are a remarkable 11-2 with a 1.73 earned-run average since June 2. In 104-1/3 innings, they've surrendered 20 earned runs, walked 17 batters and struck out 71.

Scott Baker added to the streak Saturday with eight innings of four-hit ball, improving to 5-4 with a 3.20 ERA.

Good starting pitching cures a lot of ailments, among them a tired bullpen. In those past 15 starts, Twins starters have pitched three complete games and gone eight innings four times - and they're averaging seven innings a start.

That's been a tremendous boost for the bullpen and the man who directs it, manager Ron Gardenhire. A question mark heading into the season, the relievers were stressed and overworked earlier this season, and Capps seemed to bear the brunt.

After blowing a save in an 8-7 loss to Seattle on May 25, Capps was 1-3 with seven saves and a 5.09 ERA in 20 appearances. Six of those started in the eighth inning - as many times has he had pitched more than one inning in all of 2010, when he recorded a career-high 46 saves between the Twins and Washington Nationals. "