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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Minnesota and Detroit are attempting to win games
in similar ways this season.
With modest payrolls, they hope to get solid pitching and sound
defense while they scratch together enough offense with singles,
doubles and aggressive base running.
|  | | Detroit's Roger Cedeno steals second as Twins second baseman Luis Rivas is too late with the tag. |
The formula worked for the Twins as they beat the Tigers 3-2,
ruining Detroit's first opening-day complete game in 12 years and
its first season opener at home since 1992.
Brad Radke limited the Tigers to one run in eight innings and
David Ortiz homered and scored the first run of the game, when he
singled and came around on Jacque Jones' run-scoring grounder.
"That's our game," said Minnesota's A.J. Pierzynski, who
scored the Twins' final run in the eighth on Denny Hocking's
sacrifice fly. "We're going to surprise some people this year. We
have good pitching, we play good defense and we can do enough at
the plate and on the bases to get the job done."
Detroit's Jeff Weaver thought he had pitched well enough to win,
but fell short, as often happened in good starts last season.
He pitched a six-hitter and struck out four for his third complete
game in 60 starts. Jack Morris had pitched the Tigers' last
opening-day complete game and it also was a loss, 4-0 to Texas in
1989.
Just three pitchers in the American League got less run support than Weaver
last year, when he went 11-15 with a 4.32 ERA.
"This is one of the worst feelings I've had since I came up
here," said the 24-year-old, beginning his third major league
season. "I had a chance to get us a win and I let the ballclub
down. It's much worse because it is opening day."
Minnesota manager Tom Kelly was impressed Weaver stayed in the
game after Cristian Guzman's line-drive hit the pitcher's left
palm.
"This guy is going to be one of the best pitchers in the league
pretty soon," Minnesota manager Tom Kelly said. "We were
fortunate to get a few runs."
Detroit manager Phil Garner gave Radke credit for his
performance, but was disappointed with his team.
"We made a couple mistakes and they came back to hurt us,"
Garner said.
Right fielder Roger Cedeno, acquired in a six-player trade with
Texas during the offseason, allowed two slow Twins -- Ortiz and
Pierzynski -- to get extra bases, which led to Minnesota's first and
third runs.
"We have to be able to run around and score that way," Kelly
said.
Both teams were hoping to change their recent pasts.
Minnesota is coming off eight consecutive losing years. Detroit,
which begins its second season in Comerica Park, has finished with
losing records in a team-record seven consecutive seasons.
Radke, starting a $36 million, four-year contract, allowed his
only run on Bobby Higginson's run-scoring double in the fourth. Higginson
agreed to a $35 million, four-year contract extension Sunday,
electing not to be a free agent after the season.
Detroit added a run in the ninth on Billy McMillon's single, but
Bob Wells got Shane Halter to line to Hocking at second, starting a
game-ending double play.
Brandon Inge, 23, made his major league debut as the Tigers'
catcher.
Inge, called up from Triple-A Toledo on Friday after Mitch
Meluskey's season-ending shoulder injury, threw out Matt Lawton and
Jones trying to steal second and also stopped a pitch in the dirt,
which saved a run in the fifth.
Inge was 0-for-2 at the plate.
Game notes
Kelly was disappointed that closer LaTroy Hawkins, who
struggled through spring training, was unable to close the Tigers
out in the ninth. ... The Tigers, 6-17 in April last season, have
not had a winning record in April since 1993, which also was the
last time they finished above .500. ... Radke gave up one run in
six innings in his previous outing against the Tigers. ... Meluskey
had surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday.
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RECAPS
Minnesota 3
Detroit 2
Texas 3
Anaheim 2
Tampa Bay 8
Toronto 1
Oakland 5
Seattle 1
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 4
Houston 11
Milwaukee 3
Cincinnati 3
Pittsburgh 2
Philadelphia 4
Florida 3
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 2
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