Pavano exits after getting battered by Cleveland

The Indians are 1-5 in their past six games and have fallen from first place, as they prepare to open a weekend series against the Twins.

June 2, 2012 at 1:03AM
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Carl Pavano (48) hands the ball to manager Ron Gardenhire as he is relieved in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Friday, June 1, 2012, in Cleveland. The Twins catcher is Ryan Doumit.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Carl Pavano (48) hands the ball to manager Ron Gardenhire as he is relieved in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Friday, June 1, 2012, in Cleveland. The Twins catcher is Ryan Doumit. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

CLEVELAND -- The Indians were in first place a week ago, but they got swept by the White Sox last weekend and dropped two of three against the Royals, getting outscored in that six-game stretch 48-26.

The Twins are coming off a sweep of Oakland, and they'll try to keep that momentum going tonight with Carl Pavano on the mound. Drew Butera has been catching him of late, but Ryan Doumit is behind the plate tonight, with Joe Mauer at DH again.

Update: Kyle Waldrop (strained elbow) was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Class AAA Rochester. The Twins released RHP Daryl Thompson to make room on Rochester's rosier for Waldrop, and they also released RHP Brad Thompson (no relation).

Mauer hasn't caught since Monday but could be back there again Saturday, Gardenhire said.

TWINS (18-32)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Ben Revere, RF
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Justin Morneau, 1B
6. Ryan Doumit, C
7. Brian Dozier, SS
8. Alexi Casilla, 2B
9. Jamey Carroll, 3B

Starting pitcher: RH Carl Pavano (2-4, 5.46 ERA)

INDIANS (27-23)

1. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
4. Jose Lopez, DH
5. Michael Brantley, CF
6. Casey Kotchman, 1B
7. Johnny Damon, LF
8. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
9. Lou Marson, C

Starting pitcher: Derek Lowe (6-3, 3.25 ERA)

Progressive Field. First pitch: 6:05 p.m. (Central). TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network

Follow along on Twitter: @JoeCStrib

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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