MINNEAPOLIS — Carl Pavano pitched eight solid innings against the White Sox on Saturday night giving up two earned runs and nine hits in a 6-2 loss.

The twelve year veteran was out dueled by Chicago’s Zach Stewart (1-1, 3.91 ERA), who pitched six and a third innings giving up the Twin’s lone run in the sixth on Danny Valencia’s single to center field. Stewart was just recalled from Class AAA Charlotte yesterday.

Minnesota (51-62) fell apart late in the game surrendering four runs in the ninth inning. Glen Perkins and closer Joe Nathan gave up two runs a piece as the Twin’s defense was shredded in the late going.

“A little disappointed there at the end. We had a lot of chances throughout the ball game,” Twin’s manager Ron Gardenhire said after the game. “We got a great start from Pavano and we had plenty of opportunities.”

Perhaps the Twin’s best opportunity of the night to tie the game came in the eighth inning. Michael Cuddyer hit a stand up double to began a potential rally. Minnesota’s second baseman advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Chicago’s Chris Sale.

With no outs and Cuddyer sitting on third base, Jason Kubel and Jim Thome both grounded out. After the White Sox called in Jason Frasor out of the bullpen, Danny Valencia stepped to the dish.

Looking for his second RBI of the contest, Valencia stood in and watched as Frasor delivered three straight strikes, sitting him down on 93 mph fast ball and leaving the game’s tying run at third.

“(Sale) is pretty good, It’s not a bad two-some going up there with the infield in,” Gardenhire said. “You’ve got to get your bat on the ball and you got to make hard contact. You have to tip your hat to the kid.”

Pavano (6-9, 4.71 ERA) found himself in a hole during the fifth inning. He gave up a one-out walk to Brent Morel and allowed a single to Juan Pierre setting up an RBI single from designated hitter Paul Konerko to left field scoring Morel.

With only one out still in the inning, the White Sox (54-58) signaled for Pierre to steal third base and Danny Valencia couldn’t handle the throw with the ball ricochet into left field allowing Pierre to score an unearned run on the play.

“I looked back at my last three outings and I needed a solid outing, go out there and at least get deep into a game,” Pavano said. “I at least did that.”

Glen Perkins pitched to three batters in the ninth inning for Minnesota. The left hander allowed an opening single to Alejandro De Aza, struck out Morel and walked Pierre before being pulled in favor of closer Joe Nathan.

A wild pitch in the dirt got away from Drew Butera, who recovered and attempted to throw out Pierre at second base but the ball sailed into center field allowing De Aza to score. With runners on the corners, Konerko delivered another RBI on a sacrifice, scoring Pierre. Brent Lillibridge connected on a two-run home run, his eighth of the year, to clear the bases before Nathan could record the final out of the inning.

Minnesota played solid defense up until the ninth inning.

Pavano made it out of the first inning on seven pitches, all of them fast balls. Pierre grounded out on his bunt single attempt. After Alexi Ramirez singled on a ground ball through the left side of the infield, Pavano got Konerko to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

“I just think I made better pitches and made some adjustments putting more angle on the pitches,” Pavano said. “Today, I was able to keep the damage control down and make some better pitches.”

Cuddyer’s two-out double in the first inning was his 232nd career double which tied him with the late Harmon Killebrew for seventh on the Twins all-time list. Jason Kubel struck out with Cuddyer in scoring position to end the inning.

Chicago got the ball rolling in the third inning. Pierre and Ramirez reached on back to back singles, but Pavano sat down Konerko on three straight pitches to hold the Sox scoreless.

Delmon Young tried to get the Twins offense moving in the bottom of the fifth trying to stretch his left-field single into a double but was thrown out sliding into second base. Matt Tolbert reached base on a line drive single to center field and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Stewart. Chicago’s pitcher beamed Butera on a 2-1 pitch and put two runners on base with Denard Span due up to bat.

Span grounded into a fielders choice, with Butera out at second, but advanced Tolbert to third, Span then stole his sixth base of the year, setting up two runners in scoring position for first-baseman Joe Mauer.

After a six pitch at-bat Mauer struck out on a 94 mph fast ball to end the inning. Leaving two ducks on the pond.

Minnesota’s starting pitcher sat down the side in order in the sixth inning. Pavano struck out Rios swinging, Pierzynski grounded out to shortstop and Beckham flew out to center field.

Thome  extended his hit streak to 10 games with a one out double in the sixth inning, sending the ball into the right field corner and advancing right-fielder Kubel to third base on the play. Putting Valencia in the batter’s box, the Twins leader in RBI’s with 58, with two runners in scoring position.

The Twin’s third baseman delivered a ground ball single to center field scoring Kubel on the play and pulling the Twins back within one run. Young grounded into a double play to end Minnesota’s scoring in the sixth inning.

Jake Peavy was suppose to start the game for the White Sox but his start was moved to Sunday with Chicago opting to put 24-year-old Stewart on the mound. Stewart made his fourth career start Saturday. His previous three starts came earlier this season with Toronto and left him with an 0-1 record and a 4.86 ERA, before being traded and spending time in Class AAA.

Minnesota will send Brian Duensing (8-9, 4.50 ERA) to the mound to face Peavy (4-5, 5.13 ERA) in the series finale against Chicago at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday.

Duensing’s last start against the White Sox was in Chicago on July 9. The lefty earned a no-decision in a 4-3 loss, but pitched seven innings only giving up five hits and two runs.

Thome’s quest to become Major League Baseball’s eighth member of the 600 home run club was put on hold again Saturday night. He went 1-3 with a double and a walk.

“I’m aware of that number, absolutely, but that number hopefully will happen by having good at-bats,” Thome said. “That’s all I’m really trying to do.”

Justin Morneau, who is recovering from neck surgery made his second rehab start in Class AAA for Rochester. The team was in Norfolk and Morneau went 1-for-4 at the plate.

“The reports were he felt great yesterday after the ball game, and I’m sure he felt pretty good today. I’m hoping,” Gardenhire said. “He’s been out two months and he’s at seven or eight at-bats right now. He’s probably going to need six or seven games, eight games at most.”