Twins shortstop Adam Everett left tonight’s game after the sixth inning, when he was hit on the right hand by a foul ball from Nick Punto.

Everett is being taken for X-rays. Brendan Harris took over at shortstop.

Last we checked, Alexi Casilla was 1-for-2 with a walk for Class A Beloit.

Updates to come…

Update (10:27 p.m.): X-rays were negative. Everett was diagnosed with a bruise and said he doesn’t expect to have to go on the disabled list.

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Twins have claimed lefthanded pitcher Craig Breslow off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, and he will join his new team in time for Friday’s game against the Yankees, the Twins announced today.

Breslow was 0-0 with a 3.24 ERA in seven appearances for Cleveland this season. He allowed three earned runs, 10 hits and had five walks and seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.

This will give the Twins two lefthanded relievers in the bullpen, allowing them to protect lefty Dennys Reyes from getting overused.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred Pat Neshek (strained elbow) to the 60-day disabled list. They need to make another roster move to make room on the 25-man roster, which will likely involve sending a reliever back to Class AAA Rochester.

FORT MYERS — The Twins are 8-7 at the half-way point of their Grapefruit League schedule, and there’s plenty at stake over the last 15 games.

I used the word struggling to describe Denard Span in our notebook yesterday, and that might have been strong. He has a .393 on-base percentage and had two hits wiped out by rain against Tampa Bay on March 4. Give him those two knocks, and he’s batting .292.

Carlos Gomez has been very impressive on a couple occasions, but for the most part, he’s struggled, as his .148 average and .167 OBP shows.

But Craig Monroe looks very good at the plate right now. I want to see what he can do in center field because based on what I’ve seen, I think this would be this team’s optimal lineup for Opening Day:

1. Brendan Harris, 2B

2. Joe Mauer, C

3. Delmon Young, LF

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF

6. Jason Kubel, DH

7. Craig Monroe, CF

8. Mike Lamb, 3B

9. Adam Everett, SS

I think Cuddyer will bat third and Young fifth to start the season. My point is, the above players give this team the best chance to win. There is plenty of time for Span or Gomez to change my mind.

To be clear, Manager Ron Gardenhire hasn’t given up on Span or Gomez. But when asked about the possibility of Monroe in center field Thursday, Gardenhire said, “If I put him in center at times, I would have an opportunity to have Kubel DH-ing. If those guys are all swinging good, that’s a lot more thunder. I’m not afraid to do stuff like that. I want that as an option.”

Also, this was going to be a blog post yesterday, but the editors were kind enough to find space in the paper. Introducing, one of the toughest baseball fans I’ve ever met.

FORT MYERS — The Boston Red Sox scored on Francisco Liriano in each of the first three innings of his start Wednesday.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire pulled Liriano with no outs in the third, after David Ortiz drilled a run-scoring double to right field, giving Boston a 3-0 lead.

Liriano threw 53 pitches — 25 balls, 28 strikes — and struggled to command his fastball, change-up and slider.

His line: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. (Pitched to two batters in the third inning).

Update: Liriano said his arm felt good even and said he was pitching with about 90-95 percent effort, compared to the 80 percent he was using earlier in camp.

“I’m almost there,” he said. “I feel more comfortable in the last two innings. I was trying to let it go.”

Liriano said Gardenhire told him not to worry about the results, to just work on his pitches and get ready for the season.

“I think I have enough time to stretch out and be ready for the season,” Liriano said.

FORT MYERS — The Twins are about to start a “B-game” against the Red Sox, which is another way of saying those two teams are playing, but not charging admission, at City of Palms Park. La Velle is there on the scene for us.

The Twins play their regularly scheduled game against the Reds at Hammond Stadium, starting at 12:05 p.m. (Central).

B-Game

1. Denard Span, CF

2. Matt Tolbert, SS

3. Jason Kubel, DH

4. Jon Knott, 1B

5. Garrett Jones, LF

6. Alejandro Machado, 2B

7. Jose Morales, C

8. Howie Clark, 3B

9. Jason Pridie, RF

Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker (Jesse Crain and Juan Rincon are also scheduled to pitch).

City of Palms Park, 9 a.m. (Central).

A-Game

1. Carlos Gomez, CF

2. Joe Mauer, C

3. Michael Cuddyer, RF

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Delmon Young, LF

6. Mike Lamb, 3B

7. Randy Ruiz, DH

8. Brendan Harris, 2B

9. Alexi Casilla, SS

Starting pitcher: LH Glen Perkins. (Casey Daigle, Brian Bass, Phil Humber and Zach Day are scheduled to pitch in relief.)

Hammond Stadium. First pitch, 12:05 p.m. (Central).