Minnesota Twins defeat Kansas City Royals, 6-2

Here are a few things to know about Twins righthander Carl Pavano: He can hold runners on base when he really tries.

He can figure out ways to compete while he searches for his best control.

And his relatively new mustache -- which looks like it's sponsored by Sharpie -- is not going away any time soon.

The veteran addressed all of those issues Wednesday night after he went eight innings in the Twins' 6-2 victory over the Royals before an announced record crowd...

Jim Thome has been involved in the opening of three major league ballparks.

The Twins designated hitter was with the Cleveland Indians in 1994 when Jacobs Field opened, with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004 when Citizens Bank Ballpark opened and here this season when Target Field brought outdoor baseball back to the Twin Cities.

Thome, 39, has been in the major leagues since 1991. He has also played for the White Sox and Dodgers, so nobody on the Twins roster is in ...

The best case scenario for the Twins is that shortstop J.J. Hardy arrives at Target Field on Thursday with good news about his bothersome left wrist.

Hardy took a cortisone shot in the wrist Tuesday and had to wait two days for the medicine to work its way through the wrist.

"I'm doing nothing today," Hardy said on Tuesday. "We'll see how it feels on Thursday."

If he feels better, he will begin working his way back into the lineup. If not, he could have the wrist ...

There are legions of baseball fans in Minnesota that suffer when Joe Mauer's production lags, and there is also a crew of baseball observers in Minnesota that seem to enjoy it when the hometown hero is in the midst of a snag.

That word -- "snag" -- is used advisedly, for that was Gene Mauch's description when his star, Rod Carew, was not getting hits in clusters. As Twins manager, Mauch refused to use the word "slump" in connection with a hitter such as Sir Rodney.

M...