Twins take Tigers series, welcome Rays

After taking two out of three from the Detroit Tigers, the Twins will host the Tampa Bay Rays for a four-game series starting tonight at 7:10pm. Yes, it's going to be another gorgeous night for outdoor baseball. Kevin Slowey is now a career 5-0 against the Motor City Kitties after six strong innings in which he allowed just one run on four hits before taking a Magglio Ordonez liner off his right ankle. He was diagnosed with a bruise and is day-to-day, but should be fine. One thing we do know, the right-hander loves his home field, boasting a 20-7 mark in Minnesota dating back to 2008. Meanwhile, the 43-35 Twins improved to 19-10 within the Central division.

Justin Morneau drove in two runs during the 5-1 victory, including his 16th homer that launched 441 feet onto the plaza to mark the longest home run in Target Field's short history, sailing one foot farther than Corey Hart's upper deck bomb from earlier this year. The rest of the Twins lineup, excluding Jim Thome, who struck out three times, hit at least one ball pretty hard off Tigers rookie Andy Oliver while his team's defense queued circus tunes throughout the game.

Carl Pavano (9-6, 3.33 ERA) will take the hill this evening for game one against Jeff Niemann, whose last start resulted in an Edwin Jackson no-hitter, the fourth in baseball this season. The righty is 1-0 in two career games against the Twins, including one start, with a 1.29 ERA.

Pavano's mustache is coming off two consecutive complete games and will be looking for a fifth straight victory tonight. He is 5-3 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.73 ERA in 10 starts.

Just a reminder: today is your last chance to vote for your favorite Twins to make the All-Star team: voting ends at 11:59pm ET. As of the last update, Joe Mauer has amassed nearly four million total tallies, making him the most popular guy in the whole American League. Our Canadian Crusher holds a 300,000-vote lead on New York Yankees first baseman Mark Tiexiera thus far, with Miguel Cabrera trying to close the gap.