Target Field will play host for a three-game series between the Twins and Indians starting on Friday night, as Minnesota continues its exhaustive 12-game stretch against divisional opponents.
After dropping three straight to the White Sox earlier in the week for a disheartening sweep, Ron Gardenhire's team will need to pick things up offensively against a Cleveland team that can't afford to stumble right now. Though the Indians have fallen into third place in the divisional standings, Cleveland has won three of four games and enters the weekend with a good amount of momentum after recently edging the Tigers 2-1 in a brief series.
The ball will be the hands of Minnesota starter Scott Diamond to open Friday's game one, as the 25-year-old hurler has his sights firmly set on his ninth victory of the season. Diamond did not yield a single earned run to the Indians in his only previous appearance against Cleveland this year, and could certainly use a strong outing after opening the second half with two straight sub-par efforts.
Here are the starting lineups for game one:
Twins
1. Denard Span - CF
2. Ben Revere - RF
3. Joe Mauer - C
4. Josh Willingham - LF
5. Justin Morneau - 1B
6. Ryan Doumit - DH
7. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
8. Brian Dozier - SS
9. Jamey Carroll - 2B
Scott Diamond - SP
Indians
1. Shin-Soo Choo - RF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS
3. Jason Kipnis - 2B
4. Michael Brantley - CF
5. Carlos Santana - 1B
6. Travis Hafner - DH
7. Jose Lopez - 2B
8. Shelley Duncan - LF
9. Lou Marson - C
Josh Tomlin - SP
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