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Twins, Indians begin series in Cleveland

Aug 12, 2011 - 3:38 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins should have first baseman Justin Morneau back in the lineup this evening when they open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Morneau, who underwent surgery to remove a herniated disk fragment in his neck on June 29, was originally placed on the disabled list, retroactive to June 10, with a sprained left wrist. However, while on the shelf he elected to have surgery on his neck, which had been bothering him all season.

In 55 games before being sidelined Morneau was hitting .225 with four homers and 21 RBI.

The former AL MVP, who missed the second half of last year with a concussion, wasn't expected back until at least Monday, but has been impressive in rehab games at Triple-A Rochester.

"He's killing the ball," Gardenhire said. "He's swinging really good, and feels great. He basically said, "Get me out of here, please. It's really hot in Durham.'"

The Twins could certainly use Morneau's bat, as they have dropped six of seven and are fourth in the AL Central, 10 games back of the front-running Detroit Tigers.

Minnesota stopped a six-game slide on Wednesday when Jim Thome's go-ahead RBI double set the stage for a three-run eighth inning, helping the Twins get past Boston, 5-2, at Target Field.

Thome enters this weekend's set two home runs shy of becoming the eighth player in major league history to reach 600. Of course, Thome spent the first 12 years of his big league career with the Indians, swatting a team-record 334 of his 598 home runs for them.

"I have respect for them, especially because that's where I started," Thome said. "So that could be very, very cool as well. But I think just doing it would be very cool."

Getting the call for the Twins tonight will be righty Carl Pavano, who has lost his last three decisions. Pavano dropped his second straight start on Saturday against Chicago, despite a terrific effort that saw him allow just an unearned run in eight innings of a 6-1 loss, dropping him to 6-9 on the year to go along with a 4.71 ERA.

Pavano did not get a decision the last time he faced the Tribe, but is 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in seven starts against them.

Cleveland, meanwhile, will try to get back on track tonight after it was denied a sweep over the Tigers on Thursday, falling to the division leaders and Justin Verlander, 4-3.

Fausto Carmona (5-12) surrendered seven hits and four runs -- three earned -- with six strikeouts over seven full frames for the Indians, who now sit three games back of Detroit. Chicago is only four games off the pace.

"This was a great series. We came in trying to shorten up the distance and we did," noted Indians manager Manny Acta. "The goal was to sweep it, but if we couldn't do that, two out of three isn't bad. Our guys played well the whole time."

The Twins won't be the only ones getting a big bat back for tonight's contest, as the Indians activated outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from the disabled list on Friday.

Choo fractured his left thumb during a June 24 game against San Francisco when he was hit by a pitch from Jonathan Sanchez. He underwent surgery four days later and just completed a minor league rehab stint.

In 72 games for the Tribe entering Friday's action, Choo is hitting .244 with five homers and 28 runs batted in. He was batting .357 in his nine games before the injury.

Heading to the hill for Cleveland this evening will be sinkerballing righty Justin Masterson, who will start on short rest after a rain-shortened outing on Tuesday. Masterson went two innings in that one against Detroit and allowed two runs and four hits.

Masterson, who is 0-4 lifetime versus the Twins, is 9-7 on the year with a 2.71 ERA.

Minnesota has taken six of its nine meetings with the Indians this season and is 11-3 in the last 14 overall matchups.