KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 2 (UPI) -- Minnesota pitcher Carl Pavano was a sight to behold, taking a bat to a garbage can in the dugout after being yanked from yet another Twins losing effort.

But try as he might Sunday, Pavano couldn't even break the bat, which he said was his initial intention, and his teammates were equally futile in losing for a sixth straight time, 10-3 to the Kansas City Royals.


Minnesota, expected to contend for another American League Central Division title, now has a major league worst 9-18 record.

Pavano, who gave up up seven runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings and saw his season slip to 2-3 with a 5.84 ERA, had plenty of reason to vent.

"I kept whaling away because that [expletive] wouldn't break," the St. Paul Pioneer Press quoted him as saying. "I couldn't even break a bat on the field [either]. Freaking embarrassing. I took plenty of hacks to give myself a chance to break it. I couldn't do it."

"Just as long as we don't turn the bats on each other. I think we'll be all right."