Minnesota starting pitcher Scott Diamond will try his luck from the plate on Friday evening, as the Twins open a three-game Interleague series with the Miami Marlins. The 2-0 Diamond, who has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings to open his 2012 campaign, has never once faced big league pitching as a hitter in his career.
Oddly enough, umpire Bob Davidson, who was scheduled to work Friday's game, was suspended by the league earlier in the day according to Fox Sports Wisconsin.
Umpire Bob Davidson, scheduled to work the Milwaukee Brewers' series opener with the Minnesota Twins at Miller Park on Friday, was suspended one game by the commissioner's office for repeated violations of "standards for situation handling."
Davidson obstructed the view of Philadelphia catcher Brian Schneider on a key play in a game back on Tuesday, and will be replaced with a minor league umpire in his one-game absence.
Looking for three straight, the Twins will send a red-hot 3-4-5 trio of Mauer, Willingham and Morneau to face Milwaukee starter Marco Estrada. Estrada has given up two home runs in each of his last three starts despite posting a respectable 4.20 ERA for the year, but has been susceptible to the long ball throughout his four-year career. With Diamond on the mound and Minnesota's Big Three each healthy and locked-in at the plate, a three-game win streak could definitely be in the cards for Ron Gardenhire's team.
Here are the starting lineups for Friday night's game:
Twins
1. Denard Span - CF
2. Brian Dozier - SS
3. Joe Mauer - C
4. Josh Willingham - LF
5. Justin Morneau - 1B
6. Trevor Plouffe - RF
7. Alexi Casilla - 2B
8. Jamey Carroll - 3B
9. Scott Diamond - P
Brewers
1. Corey Hart - RF
2. Norichika Aoki - CF
3. Ryan Braun - LF
4. Aramis Ramirez - 3B
5. Jonathan Lucroy - C
6. Rickie Weeks - 2B
7. Travis Ishikawa - 1B
8. Cesar Izturis - SS
9. Marco Estrada - P
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