Royals 7, Twins 6: Pavano Struggles, Twins Fail to Capitalize on Twelve Hits, Twins Lose. Again.

The Twins had plenty of chances to win today's game. Carl Pavano--considered the Twins' most consistent and reliable pitcher--started against Everett Teaford--an emergncy replacement for injured Danny Duffy. The Twins had 12 hits, including 6 extra base hits. With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Royals sent out Jose Mijares to face Jamey Carroll, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau.

But no, the Twins lost, and now stand alone as the team with the worst record in the major leagues.

The Twins hit into three double plays, while turning none of their own. Pavano failed to locate his pitches, resulting in Alex Gordon and Billy Freaking Butler sending them into outer space. Ben Revere made plays in left field that made me miss Delmon Young. Danny Valencia hit what would have been a game tying homerun, only to be brilliantly robbed by Alex Gordon. The Twins struck-out zero Kansas City batters. Joe Mauer did not hit a homerun. And when Ryan Doumit hit a ball to right field that would have either filled the bases or tied the game, the umpires ruled that Jeff Francoeur caught the ball--even though it seemed to be a trapped ball--which allowed the Royals to pull a double play off the confused Twins base runners.

Sigh.

Notes, Studs, and Duds after the jump.

Notes:

• Ben Revere was playing left field. The game was tied in the top of the 8th inning. The Royals had a runner on second. Alcides Escobar hits a single to left field. Ben Revere attempts to throw the ball home. But he didn't really throw it. He did something And it wasn't at the plate. The winning run scored. Watch the video here. Josh Willingham will be back from paternity leave tomorrow. Stop crying.
• Jose Mijares pitched the 7th inning against his former team, and although he didn't give up and runs, it wasn't exactly a stellar performance. After giving up a lead-off single to Carroll, and then hitting Joe Mauer (you could tell from Jose's reaction it was clearly unintentional), Mijares struck out Justin Morneau, but then got out of the inning off that "but it was a trap?" double play.
• This year Target Field features a video about a former Twins player on the jumbotron in-between the 2nd and 3rd innings. Today's featured player was Terry Mulholland. I shed one solitary tear. We love you Terry Mulholland, where ever you are.