Major League Baseball

Pavano handcuffs Tigers in Twins debut

Published Aug. 9, 2009 4:14 a.m. ET

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The Minnesota Twins got just what they needed from Carl Pavano and the usual from Denard Span and Joe Mauer.

He allowed only five hits over seven innings in his Minnesota debut, Span went 5-for-5 and Mauer homered and drove in three runs to lift the Twins to a 11-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Jose Mijares and Glen Perkins completed the combined six-hit shutout with an inning each for third-place Minnesota, which moved to within 4 1/2 games of first place Detroit in the A.L. Central.

"I was glad to go out a put together a good outing right off the bat," Pavano said.

The Twins' starting rotation is in shambles and the team has been looking for some stability there.


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"It was a kind of a pleasure to watch a guy who has been around for awhile use all of his pitches," Minnesota manger Ron Gardenhire said.

It was the second time in a week that Pavano (10-8) handcuffed the Tigers. Last Sunday, while with the Cleveland Indians, Pavano allowed Detroit only a run on six hits in eight innings in an 11-1 win. He is 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA against the Tigers this season.

"We had a different game plan against him tonight. We were going to more aggressive," Detroit's Brandon Inge said. "He adjusted and put us down. He's always throws the first strike and keeps ahead of the hitters."

The Twins acquired Pavano for a player to be named later on Friday.

He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

"I thought the ball was a little higher than I'd like, but I was able to make some adjustments," Pavano said. "... I kind of pride myself on my command. I want to control both sides of the plate and go from there."

It was the second five-hit game of Span's career. The first was this past July 3, against Detroit. He is 9-for-11 in his last two games and a lifetime .444 hitter (40-for-90) against the Tigers.

"He hits us like he's in our meeting before the game," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Span can't figure why he hits the Tigers so well.

"I'm at a loss for words, there's really no reason for it." he said.

Justin Verlander (12-6) allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, walking two and striking out six. He now has a career high 186 strikeouts.

"I had good stuff but made a couple of dumb pitches and that cost me," he said.

Mauer took advantage of one for a two-run homer in the first to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead. He drove Verlander's first pitch over the left-field fence for his 20th home run. It also scored Span, who led off with a double.

Pavano worked out of a bases-loaded one out jam in the second by striking out Adam Everett and getting Curtis Granderson on a groundout.

Alexi Casillas' sacrifice made it 3-0 in the fifth.

An outstanding play by third baseman Nick Punto got Pavano out of a first and third, one out situation in the Tigers' fifth. Playing even with the bag, Punto dove to his left to nab Placido Polanco's grounder. Punto then threw from his knees to Casillas at second, who made the relay to first for an inning-ending double play.

"That was huge," Gardenhire said. "A big momentum boost."

The Twins scored eight runs in the in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

NOTES: Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire addressed comments made by umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Wendelstedt ejected Gardenhire in the second inning of Friday night's game. One of the subjects of contention was Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga's move to first, which Gardenhire said was a balk. "I would challenge (Gardenhire) to sit down and watch the replays," Wendelstedt said in published reports. "Because he was wrong. ... I'm going to invite him to my umpire school. If he wants to learn what a balk is, he can come down in January to umpire school and we'll teach him." Gardenhire's reply before the game on Saturday was: "If he'll agree to take the chances over, I'll go with him." Gardenhire and Wendelstedt have had problems in the past.

... Detroit C Gerald Laird threw out his major league-leading 24th runner attempting to steal . ... Twins' SS Orlando Cabrera was 1-for-5 to stretch his career-high hitting streak to 18 games.

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