MINNEAPOLIS  — The Minnesota Twins were waiting for something to go right offensively.

When the Twins finally caught a break, of course it was Danny Valencia coming through.

Valencia’s two-run single snapped Minnesota’s 20-inning scoreless streak and rookie Chris Parmelee added a two-run double to help the Twins avoid a sweep with a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Carl Pavano (8-11) pitched 5 1-3 innings, giving up three runs — one earned — and 10 hits as Minnesota snapped a five-game losing streak. Joe Nathan closed the game with his 13th save in 16 chances.

“It was exciting, to say the least,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Some big moments out there, some big pitches. We missed a couple of opportunities here and there, but we needed a win desperately.”

Minnesota had been shutout in back-to-back games and scored just one run in the first three games of the four-game series. Valencia’s bloop single to right field in the third inning finally helped the Twins break through against Chicago.

“He feathered the ball down the right field line,” Gardenhire said. “It’s about time one of those landed for us. That was a good thing. We got something to land for us and in a big situation.”

It had been a while since the Twins had a clutch hit. Prior to Valencia’s RBI single, Minnesota was 0 for 24 hitting with runners in scoring position dating back to Sept. 3 and had scored two runs total in the past 42 innings over that stretch.

But the Twins had Valencia up in the perfect position.

With two runners on, Joe Mauer was hit by a John Danks’ pitch to load the bases for Valencia. Valencia — who had the team’s only hit in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader — is 12 for 22 with 27 RBIs in his career with the bases loaded.

Parmelee, playing in his second career game, followed with a two-run double, over centerfielder Alex Rios’ head for his first RBIs.

“Hitting’s contagious, we thrive off each other,” Parmelee said. “Those two hits got everybody pumped up.”

Danks (6-11) lost his second straight start, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out four.

This time, Chicago was the team struggling for the big hit. The White Sox left 13 runners on base, and failed to captalize in the sixth when they had runners at second and third with one out. After Alexei Ramirez grounded out back the pitcher, Paul Konerko was intentionally walked and A.J. Pierzynski hit into fielder’s choice, leaving the bases loaded.