Friday, June 22, 2007

No Taking the D-Train

The series in Florida hasn’t even begun, and already Ron Gardenhire is disappointed. Well, sort of.

The Marlins have decided to push Dontrelle Willis’ next start to Tuesday, spoiling a great matchup with Johan Santana. And though the Twins figure to have better luck against Byung-Hyun Kim than the D-Train, Gardenhire said he was disappointed by the news.

“I was hoping we could get a chance to see him pitch. It looks like he really enjoys the game of baseball,” Gardenhire said. “That’s what baseball is all about, when you see him out there competing. That’s pretty fun for me.”

But Willis experienced tightness in his left forearm Tuesday in Chicago, and was pulled after just one inning. Willis threw on the side Friday, but Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team wants to give him more time so the problem doesn’t recur.

Can’t blame them for that. So it’s Santana-Kim on Sunday.

Tonight’s lineups:

TWINS

Castillo 2b

Mauer c

Cuddyer rf

Morneau 1b

Hunter cf

Cirillo 3b

Ford lf

Bartlett ss

Bonser p

MARLINS

Amezaga cf

Uggla 2b

Ramirez ss

Cabrera 3b

Willingham lf

Hermida rf

Olivo c

Boone 1b

Olsen p