Tigers, Hunter disappoint
Opening day didn't live up to expectations for the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels' Torii Hunter. Then again, at least they got to play.
The $138 million Tigers opened with a thud as Tony Pena Jr. hit a two-out, tiebreaking single in the 11th inning that boosted the Kansas City Royals over Detroit 5-4 Monday.
"This is pretty cool for me," said Trey Hillman, who had a successful debut as Kansas City's manager. "It's a great honor, it's humbling."
Much is expected of the Tigers, who acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis during the offseason.
"But the beauty of baseball is it's all about the long haul, not one game," Detroit closer Todd Jones said. "Hopefully with the kind of talent we have, we'll find a way to grind out more wins than other people."
At the Metrodome, Hunter put on his Angels uniform, watched the new kid take over in center field for the Twins, and finished a strange, 0-for-4 night by striking out on a high slider from former teammate Joe Nathan in the ninth.
"It felt like the whole day was in reverse," Hunter said.
His replacement, Carlos Gomez, raced around the bases to give Livan Hernandez and Minnesota enough offense for a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles.
"Man, I can't even explain what was going through my mind," Hunter said. "I'm glad that day is over. I was so pumped up and so excited to come back here. Now, hopefully, I can relax a little."
At Detroit, Cabrera hit a homer in his Detroit debut, helping the home team go ahead 3-0 through five innings, but Justin Verlander had a lackluster start.
The Tigers had a shot at a dramatic win with Clete Thomas on third base with only one out in the 11th, but Edgar Renteria struck out and the game ended when third baseman Alex Gordon snared Placido Polanco's grounder in the hole and threw him out.
Rays 6, Orioles 2
At Camden Yards, James Shields (1-0) pitched seven innings of five-hit ball, Eric Hinske homered and Tampa Bay coasted in its first game as the Rays — having dropped the Devil from the nickname.
Indians 10, White Sox 8
Casey Blake hit a three-run double in the eighth for Cleveland, playing at its ballpark for the first time since it was renamed from Jacobs Field to Progressive Field.
Mariners 5, Rangers 2
After Erik Bedard left his Mariners' debut, Adrian Beltre hit a go-ahead groundout in the sixth, and Jose Lopez had a two-run double in the seventh.
