Update: Kyle Gibson pitched a four-hit shutout and the Twins scored five runs in the fifth inning to defeat Toronto 7-0 in the first game of today's day/night doubleheader.
Come back to startribune.com soon for more on today's opener.
Ron Gardenhire acknowledged when he received them that there's no way he'll ever smoke the 1,000 cigars the Twins presented him with to celebrate his 1,000th win as Twins manager. (Which is probably wise.) And the Twins' manager today showed us another gift he's unlikely to ever run out of. Gophers football coach Jerry Kill sent over 1,000 golf tees, with "April 5, 2014 -- 1000 wins" printed on each. Gardy seemed genuinely excited by the gesture, and likely can't wait to get to a golf course to use them.
It won't be today, of course, as the Twins' day is packed, with two baseball games and a flight to Kansas City. The stadium crew is busy clearing ice from the field and seating areas, remnants of yesterday's rain and snowstorm. It's 32 degrees at the moment, but dry and not very windy, so they'll get both games in, however uncomfortable.
Eduardo Nunez has not arrived yet, but he'll be here in time to play tonight's second game at 6:10 p.m., in uniform No. 9, the same worn by Larry Hisle, Gene Larkin, Mickey Hatcher and Ryan Doumit. He's the 26th man, under baseball rules that allow expanding the roster for the second game of a doubleheader.
Here are the lineups for today's first game, to be televised on FSN:
BLUE JAYS
Cabrera LF
Kawasaki 2B
Bautista CF
Encarnacion 1B
Rasmus DH
Lawrie 3B
Sierra RF
Thole C
Goins SS
Dickey RHP
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Mauer 1B
Plouffe 3B
Colabello RF
Kubel LF
Pinto DH
Suzuki C
Hicks CF
Florimon SS
Gibson RHP