By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Here are the lineups quickly. I’ll have more a little later after Gardy talks.

UPDATE: Ladies and gentleman, the Twins second baseman for the start of the 2011 season will be Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that he’s decided on Nishioka at second base, meaning that Alexi Casilla will be at shortstop. Gardy said he spoke with Nishioka, who told him that right now he feels more comfortable at second base and Gardy likes Casilla’s range and arm at shortstop. So we have the setup for the middle infield.

Twins
(4-2)
Ben Revere, LF
Matt Tolbert, SS
Jason
Kubel, DH
Danny Valencia, 3B
Chris Parmelee, 1B
Jason Repko, CF
Brian Dinkelman, RF
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Drew Butera, C
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn

Others scheduled to pitch: Matt
Capps, Pat Neshek, Phil Dumatrait, Jeff Manship, Dusty Hughes, Kyle Waldrop, Alex Burnett

Rays (1-5-1)
John Jaso, C
Johnny Damon, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Manny Ramirez, DH
Dan Johnston, 1B
B.J. Upton, CF
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Desmond Jennings, RF
Ray Olmedo, SS
Pitching: RHP Andy Sonnanstine

Others

scheduled to pitch: Adam Russell, Chris Bootcheck, Chris Archer

By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. — I’m headed off to watch Francisco Liriano pitch in the ‘B’ game at the Minor League complex that starts at 10 a.m. ET.

UPDATE: Liriano was a little erratic in his first spring start. He pitched two innings and threw close to 40 pitches. He gave up a run while allowing three hits, walking two and hitting a batter. He also recorded one strikeout.

Still Liriano, who batted some shoulder soreness early in camp, seemed to have decent velocity and that’s a positive considering the early setback. Liriano said afterward that his arm felt good in his outing, but he felt that he was just rushing himself a bit.

“I wasn’t able to locate my fastball today,” Liriano said. “I think I was overthrowing. It was my first outing and I think I was pretty excited to be out there throwing. I think I jut have to calm down, make an adjustment, stay back and locate.”

Liriano said he threw all of his pitches and while he was upset with his fastball location, he was pleased with his changeup in the outing.

Here are today’s lineups for the “varsity game” as Gardy called it:

Rays (1-4-1)
B.J. Upton, CF
John Jaso, DH
Evan Longoria, 3B
Manny Ramirez, LF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Felipe Lopez, 2B
Justin Ruggiano, RF
Jose Lobaton, C
Reid Brignac, SS
Pitching: LHP Alex Torres

Twins
(3-2)
Denard Span, CF
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS
Jason Kubel, RF
Jim Thome, DH
Luke Hughes, 3B
Jeff Bailey, 1B
Rene Rivera, C
Jason Repko, LF
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey

Others scheduled to pitch: Jose Mijares, Joe Nathan, Eric Hacker, Carlos Gutierrez, Kyle Gibson, Yorman Bazardo

By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins activated shortstop J.J. Hardy before Saturday’s game and placed infielder Matt Tolbert on the disabled list to make room on the roster.

The Twins have a pretty stacked lineup today, as you’ll see below. Certainly helps to have almost every position player healthy right now.

Rays (46-33)
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Willy Aybar, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
B.J. Upton, CF
Ben Zobrist, 1B
Gabe Kapler, RF
Jason Bartlett, SS
Pitching: RHP Wade Davis (5-9, 4.68 ERA)

Twins

(44-36)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, 3B
Jim Thome, DH
Delmon
Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano
(6-6, 3.47 ERA)

A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier 

By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Summer has certainly set in at Target Field and it’s been fun to watch Twins fans really enjoy all the aspects that come with watching baseball outdoors.

One of the things that comes with outdoor baseball — fireworks.

Tonight, the Twins will host a fireworks display and there is certainly a lot of anticipation since the July 4th weekend has usually meant people waiting around outside the Metrodome to watch the city’s fireworks since they couldn’t have them in the Dome.

As for baseball news, shortstop J.J. Hardy is expected to be back for Saturday’s game and the roster move will likely involved a DL stint for Matt Tolbert, who injured his middle right finger during Wednesday’s game. Tolbert still can’t throw or hit so it seems the logical move.

Funny moment in the clubhouse today as the players were watching the World Cup before batting practice. The Uruguay-Ghana game was in extra time and there was plenty of rooting interest among the players. Some of them even had vuvuzuelas and were blowing them during the sudden death penalty kicks. Some of the biggest smiles after Uruguay’s win came from Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer as they wore “I (heart) Uruguay” T-shirts around the clubhouse.

Here are the lineups:

Rays (46-32)
Ben
Zobrist, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Willy Aybar, DH
Matt
Joyce, RF
Kelly Shoppach, C
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Reid Brignac, SS
Pitching: LHP David Price (11-3, 2.44 ERA)

Twins

(43-36)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Nick
Punto, SS
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker
(6-7, 4.97 ERA)

A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier 

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)

A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier