J.J. Hardy and Jim Thome each homered in support of Carl Pavano as the Minnesota Twins dispatched the Kansas City Royals, 8-3, on Friday.

Michael Cuddyer drove in a pair and Orlando Hudson had three hits for the Twins, who have won six of eight.

Pavano (3-1) worked seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. The veteran right-hander did not walk a batter and threw 70 of his 104 pitches for strikes.

Justin Morneau got Minnesota on the board with an RBI single in the first and came around for the second run on Cuddyer's run-scoring double to left. Cuddyer added another run in the third when he grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

Thome extended the lead with his third homer of the season off Brad Thompson in the fifth and Hardy blasted his third in the eighth. Thome added a two-run double in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Gil Meche (0-2) had another disappointing effort for the Royals, getting touched for four runs and four hits while walking five in 3 1/3 innings. The former ace saw his ERA rise to 11.37.

David DeJesus provided some fireworks for Kansas City, following up his RBI single in the third with an inside-the-park homer off Pavano in the sixth - blasting a drive to deep right field and racing around the bases.