Nelson Cruz hit a pair of homers, including his 10th career grand slam, and drove in five runs as visiting the Minnesota Twins slugged their way to a 15-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
Willians Astudillo had three hits, drove in two runs and scored another for Minnesota. Andrelton Simmons reached base four times, scored two runs and drove in two more, while Jorge Polanco supplied two hits, a run and an RBI.
Matt Shoemaker (1-0) got the victory in his Twins debut, limiting the Tigers to one run on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
Akil Baddoo, who homered in his first major league at-bat on Sunday, hit a ninth-inning grand slam for Detroit.
Blue Jays 6, Rangers 2
Steven Matz struck out nine, Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer, Cavan Biggio had a solo shot and visiting Toronto prevailed at Arlington, Texas.
Matz (1-0) allowed one run, two hits and one walk and hit a batter in 6 1/3 innings in his Toronto debut to help spoil the Rangers’ home opener before a crowd of 38,238 with COVID-19 pandemic attendance restrictions lifted.
Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) allowed four runs, four hits and three walks while striking out seven in four innings in his Rangers debut.
Royals 3, Indians 0
Whit Merrifield had a home run and three RBIs as Kansas City spoiled Cleveland’s home opener with a shutout.
The Indians managed just three hits against three Kansas City pitchers.
Danny Duffy (1-0) pitched six innings for Kansas City. He allowed two hits while issuing three walks and recording five strikeouts. Jesse Hahn earned his first save of the season.
–Field Level Media
