Pavano stays home for therapy

Twins righthander Carl Pavano will remain in the Twin Cities while the team heads to Detroit so he can work on the mild soreness in his shoulder.

After a couple days of therapy, Pavano will join the Twins in Milwaukee and start Friday against the Brewers.

Pavano maintains he can pitch through the issue and doesn't need to take time off. But he didn't rule out taking a cortisone shot after his start Friday if he needs it to get over the hump.

"We have this guy we have been working with who does soft-tissue work," said Pavano, who already is a big believer in massage therapy. "So I'm getting some extra work with him on a consistent basis."

Pavano, 2-3 with a 5.14 ERA, said he'll probably return to the Twin Cities after Friday's game to continue therapy.

Pavano gave up four runs over six innings to Cleveland on Monday, but got a no-decision in the 5-4 loss. He actually threw a little harder than he has in other starts this season, and manager Ron Gardenhire said he noticed Pavano's stuff was sharp deep into the game.

The Twins have been careful with Pavano's workload ever since he threw 110 pitches April 21 at Tampa Bay. In starts since then, he's thrown 83, 69, 62 and 72 pitches.

One sinks, one sails It was a one-sided matchup of sinkerballers Tuesday. Indians righthander Derek Lowe tossed the 10th shutout of his career; Twins righthander Jason Marquis was pounded.

It was a disappointing day for Marquis, who knew the Twins needed a strong start from him.

Marquis was removed after the fifth inning, during which he gave up three homers that included back-to-back blasts by Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana. Cabrera's homer was estimated at 418 feet.

Lowe registered 18 outs on ground balls. Marquis left his sinkers up in the strike zone and paid for it.

Signed as a free agent during the offseason to stabilize the rotation, Marquis is 2-3 with a 6.68 ERA.

One way to do that, the Twins think, is for Marquis to work quicker. He takes more time between pitches than the other starters.

"You're taking 20-30 seconds between each pitch," Gardenhire said. "The pace has to get better. That will help everybody involved; himself, too. And he has to get the ball sinking."

Dozier's day Shortstop Brian Dozier turned 25 on Tuesday and celebrated by going 3-for-4 with a double and raising his batting average to .297.

He batted fifth Tuesday as Gardenhire juggled the lineup.

"He's playing great baseball out there," Gardenhire said. "He is all over the field no matter where you put him in the lineup. He's a good player. He's into the game. His head is into the game and he's got a lot of skill."

"You can't go up there and put pressure on yourself, or that is what happens," Parmelee said of his struggles.