Pavano's 5-hitter carries Twins over Orioles 5-0

Carl Pavano pitched a five-hitter to earn his career-high seventh straight victory, and the Minnesota Twins beat the incensed Baltimore Orioles 5-0 on Thursday night.

Pavano (12-6) struck out four and walked one in his fifth complete game of the season and 12th of his career. The right-hander is 7-0 in nine starts since June 3.

Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and interim manager Juan Samuel were all ejected in the seventh inning. It was a rare show of emotion for the team with the worst record in the majors.

Wigginton was infuriated over a call by first base umpire Gary Darling, who ruled that Drew Butera got back to bag on an aborted attempt to steal second. Wigginton threw off his cap and yelled until he became red in the face, stopping only after Samuel forcefully pulled him away.

As he walked off the field, Wigginton tossed the ball into the stands.

Replays showed Darling blew the call, which cost the Orioles when Butera scored on a single by Denard Span to make it 5-0.

Home plate umpire Bill Hohn then ejected Kranitz, who evidently shouted a few choice words from the dugout. That brought out Samuel, who immediately threw down his hat at Hohn's feet, then kicked it aside before waving his arms and hollering at the umpire.

The struggling Orioles (30-65) finished with five hits and three ejections.

Pavano got all the offensive support he needed when Delmon Young hit a three-run double in the first inning off Kevin Millwood (2-9). Michael Cuddyer hit his 10th homer leading off the fourth.

Millwood was making his first start after a 16-day stay on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. He gave up five runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Before going on the disabled list, Millwood gave up at least two first-inning runs in eight of his last nine starts. He was poised to buck the trend after getting two quick outs, but a double by Joe Mauer and two walks loaded the bases for Young, who lined a 3-2 pitch to the gap in left-center for a 3-0 lead.

NOTES: The homer by Cuddyer was the 21st allowed by Millwood, second-most in the AL. ... Minnesota's Orlando Hudson's 10-game hitting streak ended.