Pavano hit hard again after Twins hand him early lead

OAKLAND, CALIF. - Twins starter Carl Pavano brushed off any thought that Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Athletics could be traced to his team's disappointment over not making a deal before the nonwaiver trade deadline.

"I leave those decisions up to management," Pavano said. "They've always made the right moves in the past, and I'll leave it in their hands. ... It starts with pitching, and today I didn't do my job."

The Twins gave Pavano a 3-0 lead, but Oakland scored six runs in the third inning, and A's starter Brandon McCarthy (4-5) settled in from there.

Besides giving up seven runs on nine hits over four innings, Pavano (6-8) also gave up four stolen bases.

"I don't even know where to start, to tell you the truth," Pavano said. "I definitely took the air out of the team."

Pavano is 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA in his past three starts.

"I've gone through a stretch like this already this year," said Pavano, who was 2-4 with a 6.68 ERA before going 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA over his next 10 starts.

Crowded outfield Denard Span, who has been out since June 6 because of a concussion, will come off the disabled list Tuesday, when the Twins open a series against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

To clear a roster spot, the Twins optioned infielder Luke Hughes to Class AAA Rochester. This will leave the Twins with six outfielders: Span, Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Ben Revere and Jason Repko.

Look for Cuddyer to continue seeing time at first or second base. As for Revere?

"He can come off the bench and spot play and all that stuff," Gardenhire said.

Gardenhire has committed to keeping Span in center field and the leadoff spot. In 10 games for Rochester on his rehab assignment, Span batted .205 (8-for-39), including 1-for-5 Sunday.

Nishioka's struggle Shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday and is hitting 4-for-35 (.114) with nine K's over his past 10 games. For the season, he is batting .206 with a .259 on-base percentage.

The Twins were concerned enough that they explored middle-infield options on the trade market. If Nishioka can't right himself, Gardenhire might turn to Matt Tolbert, who got back-to-back starts on Thursday and Friday -- at second base and shortstop, respectively -- and went 5-for-8, which left him batting .250 with a .250 OBP.