Rookie Danny Valencia drove in three runs, Carl Pavano won his eighth straight decision and the Minnesota Twins battered Kansas City 11-2 Tuesday night, completing the worst three-game pitching span in Royals history. In their last three games, the shell-shocked Royals have been beaten 12-6 by the Yankees and 19-1 and 11-2 by the Twins, snapping the team record of 40 runs allowed in three consecutive games. The 53 hits they’ve given up in the three routs is also the team record for three games in a row. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and J.J. Hardy all had two RBIs apiece for the Twins, who totaled 19 hits one night after getting 20.

Right-hander Gil Meche of the Kansas City Royals will undergo surgery on his pitching shoulder that will probably end his season. Meche has been on the disabled list since May 29 with what the club described as bursitis in the shoulder. v Meche, the first upper-tier free agent the Royals have signed, has battled injuries the past two seasons. He has one year left on a five-year, $55 million contract.