By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS – Today marks the start of a new month and both the Twins and Rays are certainly happy about that fact.

Both clubs got off to hot starts this year but are coming off losing months (the Twins were 12-15 in June; the Rays were 11-14). And one of those teams will start off July on the right foot tonight.

Carl Pavano will be pitching for the Twins and he’s coming off back-to-back complete games, one against the Phillies and the other against the Mets. According to the Twins media relations dept., the last Twins pitcher with three straight complete games was Kevin Tapani from June 24-July 5, 1992.

As for news, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Kevin Slowey’s ankle was a little sore but the starter is good to go for his next start. The team might push that start back a day, using Monday’s off day to flip-flop starters in order to give Slowey an extra day to rest the ankle.

J.J. Hardy went 0-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in his shoulder while playing for Class A Beloit as part of his rehab assignment last night. The shortstop is scheduled to play again tonight.

Also, Matt Tolbert injured his right middle finger in Wednesday’s game. He won’t be available to hit tonight, according to Gardenhire, and it’s possible that Tolbert could be put on the 15-day disabled list when Hardy comes back this weekend if the infielder’s finger is not feeling any better. 

Rays (45-32)
Ben Zobrist, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Matt Joyce, RF
John Jaso, C
Willy Aybar, DH
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Jason Bartlett, SS
Pitching: RHP Jeff Niemann (6-2, 2.72 ERA)

Twins

(43-35)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 3B
Jim Thome, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Nick
Punto, SS
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (9-6, 3.33 ERA)

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