Sport
Minnesota tame Tigers in rubber game
Minnesota tame Tigers in rubber game
Toronto Blue Jays Jose Reyes is safe after stealing a second as Cleveland Indians’ Asdrubal Cabrera tries to make the tag in their MLB game on Thursday. (Reuters)
Reuters/Minnesota
Josh Willingham and Trevor Plouffe hit home runs in support of Mike Pelfrey as Minnesota claimed the rubber match of the three-game series 8-2 against Tigers. Twins rookie Aaron Hicks delivered a two-run single in a five-run eighth inning for his first major-league hit, and shortstop Pedro Florimon had a two-run double in the big frame.
Pelfrey (1-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings in his Twins debut, allowing two unearned runs on five hits to earn his first win since August 24, 2011. Six relievers combined to shut out the Tigers the rest of the way.
Elsewhere, Chris Davis homered for the third day in a row and had his second straight four-RBI game as visiting Baltimore won the series finale against Raya 6-3. Miguel Gonzalez (1-0) gave up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, JJ Hardy clubbed a two-run homer and Adam Jones had three hits as the Orioles piled up 20 runs in winning two of three. Jim Johnson earned his second save. Davis swatted a two-run homer in the second inning and added a go-ahead, two-run double off Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez (0-1) in the sixth.
He finished 7-of-11 with three homers and 11 RBIs in the series and became the first player in major league history with at least three RBIs in the first three games of a season.
Padres beat Mets 2-1 with starter Eric Stults pitching five shutout innings and rookie Jedd Gyorko doubling in a run as visiting San Diego avoided a three-game sweep. Stults (1-0), picked up on waivers from the Chicago White Sox last season, allowed three hits, two walks and struck out seven. Yonder Alonso registered two hits and Gyorko earned his first career RBI for the Padres. John Buck hit a solo homer to lead off the ninth and Justin Turner recorded three of five hits for the Mets, who struck out 14 times after scoring 19 runs in the first two games. New York starter Dillon Gee (0-1) pitched the first 6 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and one run.
Travis Wood pitched six innings of one-hit ball and Nate Schierholtz blasted a two-run home run as visiting Chicago claimed their first season-opening series victory since 2009.