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Twins beat Royals behind Pavano's CG

Jun 4, 2011 - 4:00 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Carl Pavano went the distance to earn his 100th career victory, as Minnesota topped Kansas City, 5-2, in the second of four between the clubs at Kauffman Stadium.

Pavano (3-5) turned in his first nine-inning complete game since July 22, allowing nine hits and two runs with four strikeouts.

"A lot a perseverance. A lot of commitment. A lot of great teams behind me to help me do it along the way," Pavano said when asked to what he can attribute his longevity. "It's a fun part of a career, but I'm glad to have it behind me now so I can move on to some different goals. We capped off a two-game winning streak and hopefully we can carry that onto playing great baseball."

Denard Span and Drew Butera each drove in a pair of runs and Michael Cuddyer hit a solo homer for the Twins, who have won two straight after losing four in a row.

Brayan Pena and Alex Gordon notched an RBI apiece for the Royals, losers in five of their last seven. Danny Duffy (0-1) was charged in the setback with three runs on seven hits over five full frames.

Luke Hughes' two out infield single in the sixth turned into an insurance tally when Butera doubled him home for a 4-2 Twins edge.

Delmon Young singled to start the eighth and scored on a Butera sacrifice fly, but the inning ended when Ben Revere was thrown out trying to reach third.

Pavano settled down following Kansas City's two-run fourth. After Eric Hosmer's leadoff hit in the fifth, he retired 10 in a row until Billy Butler's two-out single in the eighth.

Wilson Betemit popped out to end the frame, and the veteran right-hander, who hadn't won since April 24, finished his milestone victory by setting down the Royals in order in the ninth.

"When you get a complete game thrown against you, it just doesn't matter what you do. I didn't do enough," said Butler, who had three hits in the loss. "You tip your hat to him. Obviously, we've had success off him in the past. We didn't think he would do that to us, but he did."

The Twins gave Pavano some room to operate early, picking up two runs in the second. Revere hit an infield single with one out then advanced on a Duffy balk. Butera drew a two-out walk and both men scored when Span roped a double to center.

Cuddyer added a one-out solo shot in the third for a 3-0 game, but Minnesota squandered a chance to add more runs with Danny Valencia was thrown out at home on a double steal.

Pavano didn't encounter trouble until the fourth, when he allowed two singles to put runners on the corners with none out. Pena's infield single that deflected off the Twins starter brought in KC's first run, then Pena came around on a two-out single from Gordon.

Game Notes

Pavano was 0-3 with three no-decisions since his last victory...The 35-year- old turned in seven complete games in 2010, and notched his 15th career complete outing...Prior to the game, the Royals placed pitcher Sean O'Sullivan on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Jesse Chavez from Triple-A Omaha.