OAKLAND, Calif. -- The interest in Trevor May's major-league debut is startlingly high. Hundreds of fans were lined up at the O.co Coliseum gates five hours before first pitch, and there's a festive mood in the stands during batting practice.
OK, maybe the crowd thing has more to do with Tony LaRussa bobblehead night, but it's still going to be a fun atmosphere for May's first game. The A's may not draw the biggest crowds -- it's been 20,000 each of the first two nights -- but they do a good job of backing their team here, with soccer-style chants, flags and the swaying to the sax music of "Careless Whisper" when Josh Reddick bats.
Maybe the mellow music will keep May from getting too keyed up, because he knows nerves are his biggest obstacle tonight. Well, nerves and the highest-scoring offense in the majors. May will be pitching to his Rochester teammate Eric Fryer, with Kurt Suzuki getting a night off before tomorrow's day game.
Here are the lineups for tonight's game, as the Twins try to break an 11-game losing streak to Oakland:
TWINS
Santana CF
Dozier 2B
Plouffe 3B
