It’s overcast in San Francisco, but I know better. Once I drive over that !^&%$!#%! Bay Bridge and get to Oakland, the cloud cover usually goes away. Should be a fun night with Slowey making his major league debut.

I’m interested to see Gardy’s lineup tonight. Lefties are hitting just .130 against Joe Kennedy, and that may sway Gardy into giving Lew Ford a shot over Jason Kubel, although Kubel has looked good against lefties.

Former Twin Shannon Stewart has been generally healthy and has his average around .275 after a horrible start. Check out Stew’s take on his old mates here. It also provides decent prep for the series, too.

Got some leftover minor league notes.

Jeff Manship will miss just one start because of a sore groin muscle and will start on June 6.

Jose Morales could miss 10 days with a sore back. Rochester had to use Glenn Williams as a catcher for six innings on Tuesday when Matthew LeCroy was tossed from a game. So Korey Feiner is at Rochester for awhile. Actually, the Twins think Feiner is going to be a very good catch and throw guy.

Matt Tolbert should return to the Rochester lineup sometime this weekend after recovering from a strained oblique. Matt Moses is out for a few days with a sore neck.

Beloit closer Robert Delaney has 17 saves. I asked Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues, when Delaney and Manship will be promoted.

“If they could hit, they would already be up there!” Rantz said.

You’ll be happy to know that the Twins have the Gophers-Fullerton game on in the clubhouse.

Joe Mauer feels better today, but isn’t close to returning. And the possibility is increasing that he would need a rehab stint before re-joining the team.

Lineups

Twins: 1. Castillo, 2B. 2. Cirillo, DH. 3. Cuddyer, RF. 4. Morneau, 1B. 5. Hunter, CF. 6. Redmond, C. 7. Ford, LF. 8. Punto, 3B. 9. Bartlett, SS. Pitching: Kevin Slowey.

Oakland: 1. Buck, LF. 2. Swisher, 1B. 3. Bradley, RF. 4. Johnson, DH. 5. Chavez, 3B. 6. Crosby, SS. 7. Kotsay, CF. 8. Scutaro, 2B. Kendall, C. Pitching: Kennedy.

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