Twins solve Pavano, roll past Indians, 7-1

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Slowey pitched eight sharp innings and Jason Kubel hit two solo homers, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

Slowey (3-0) carried a five-hit shutout into the ninth but allowed three singles to open the inning before departing with the bases loaded. Luis Ayala struck out Ben Francisco, but Kelly Shoppach singled in a run. Ayala then got Tony Graffanino to bounce into a game-ending double play.

Slowey struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

Kubel led Minnesota’s 15-hit attack by homering in the fifth off Carl Pavano and again in the ninth off Masa Kobayashi.

Pavano (0-3) allowed five runs and 11 hits. He was pulled with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth.

Joe Crede hit a solo homer after Kubel’s drive in the ninth, and Delmon Young finished with three hits.

Justin Morneau continued his strong run at Progressive Field with two hits, including an RBI single in the first. The first baseman is batting .364 (16-for-44) with two homers and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games at Cleveland’s home.

Crede started the fourth with a single off the glove of third baseman Mark DeRosa and took third on Michael Cuddyer’s double to left. Young and Mike Redmond had RBI singles to make it 3-0.

Kubel homered with one out in the fifth and Denard Span had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Pavano, signed as a free agent in the offseason, failed for the fourth time to get his first win with Cleveland. The right-hander had runners on in every inning, throwing 86 pitches.

Notes

C Joe Mauer (back) could return to the Twins as early as Tuesday. He caught seven innings and went 0-for-3 on a rehab assignment at Class A Fort Myers on Saturday night. Mauer is scheduled to DH on Sunday and then catch nine innings Monday. ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said OF Carlos Gomez will be back in the lineup Sunday after getting a couple of days off. ... Indians SS Jhonny Peralta, in an 0-for-19 slump, got a day off. ... Cleveland’s starting pitchers are 4-9 with a 6.17 ERA.