MLB

Carl craves shot at Yankees in October

Carl Pavano is embracing his status as The Bronx’s most hated man.

The former Yankees flop wore a wide grin as he was booed during pregame introductions last night and later said — perhaps for the first time — that he understands the fans’ anger toward him.

“Hey, I don’t blame them. I would boo me, too, after the four years I spent in New York,” Pavano said following the Twins’ 7-2 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS. “Nobody is more disappointed in the lack of production I had when I was here than me. But I’m entitled to have a little fun with it, right?”

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Pavano, who has been dubbed “American Idle” after his injured-riddled Yankees stint, went 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA for the Twins after arriving in an August waiver deal with the Indians. The right-hander tentatively was scheduled to pitch Game 3 of this series on Sunday in Minnesota, but manager Ron Gardenhire said before last night’s game that Scott Baker also is a possibility.

It doesn’t change Pavano’s goal of trying to help derail the Yankees — an opportunity he would love.

“Not just because of the history that I have here, but who wouldn’t?” Pavano said. “I’ve already done it once with the Marlins [in 2003]. Why wouldn’t I want another chance at it?”

INSIDE THE MATCHUPS

Pavano shrugged off last night’s Twins defeat as a product of needing 12 innings to handle the Tigers in Tuesday’s AL Central tiebreaker before flying to New York, arriving around 3 a.m.

“I didn’t play [Tuesday] and I’m beat,” Pavano said. “It was a long night for us and a long game. I’m not making excuses for these guys, but they battled today. We all need to go home, get a good night’s rest and get back out there [tomorrow].”

Pavano praised Twins rookie Brian Duensing for keeping the Twins in the game early before his night came unraveled in the fifth. The lefty was charged for five earned runs over 42/3 innings.

“His mound presence tonight was unflappable,” Pavano said. “He made a couple of bad pitches — we’ve all been there. But he did everything he could to prepare himself for this start and he fell a little short.”

mpuma@nypost.com