(Sports Network) - Glen Perkins has played a big part in the second-half resurgence of the Minnesota Twins. Now the rookie pitcher will be asked to play the role of stopper when his team wraps up a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Safeco Field.

The suddenly-struggling Twins suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Tuesday, coming out on the short end of a 3-2 decision to the American League West cellar-dwelling Mariners. With Chicago winning over Baltimore last night, Minnesota has fallen two games in back of the White Sox for first place in the AL Central.

The Twins also lost ground to Boston in the AL wild-card race with the setback. Minnesota trails the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games for the top spot.

Ryan Rowland-Smith threw seven strong innings for Seattle in Tuesday's victory, while Jose Lopez snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

Jeff Clement had a two-run single to help the Mariners to their third straight win. Adrian Beltre contributed three hits on the evening and scored the go- ahead run on Lopez's single.

Rowland-Smith (3-2) gave up just two runs on five hits and struck out five before turning things over Roy Corcoran, who held Minnesota scoreless over the final two frames to notch his first career save.

Twins starter Scott Baker (7-4) got the loss after giving up three runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Minnesota is now 2-4 on a lengthy 14-game road trip, the franchise's longest since 1969. The Twins have had their troubles as the visitor this season, bringing a 28-35 away mark into tonight's tilt.

Seattle has also won four of its five meetings with Minnesota at Safeco Field so far in 2008. The Twins did sweep a three-game set from the Mariners at the Metrodome from August 15-17.

If Perkins can continue his recent form this afternoon, the Twins have a good chance of seeing their luck change. The young lefty has won nine of his last 10 decisions and three straight starts, while yielding only four runs in 22 innings during the course of his win streak.

Perkins is coming off an outstanding showing Friday in Anaheim, where he limited the AL West-leading Angels to five hits through eight shutout innings to improve his season record to 11-3.

The former first-round draft pick has faced Seattle twice already in August, posting a win and a no-decision in those outings. However, Perkins has allowed a total of nine runs and 20 hits over 12 1/3 innings during this month's two matchups with the Mariners.

Seattle will hand the ball to Ryan Feierabend today for the southpaw's third outing since being called up from the minors earlier this month. The 23-year- old delivered a sharp five innings against Oakland last Friday, although he wound up without a decision in his team's 7-5 win.

Feierabend held the Athletics to one run and five hits without a walk, a significant improvement from his first start following the promotion. That came against the Twins in Minnesota on August 17, and he was rocked for six runs and 10 hits while lasting just three innings in receiving a loss.