MINNEAPOLIS — C.J. Wilson won his Angels debut with seven smooth innings, giving Los Angeles the boost it needed to beat the Twins 5-1 Monday and spoil Minnesota’s home opener.
“We have a long way to go. We just have to concentrate on playing the best baseball we can. It doesn’t really have anything to do with who’s hitting the home run or who’s getting the win,” Wilson said.
Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits while striking out five, giving up a home run by Josh Willingham. Wilson had a 2-0 lead before he even touched the mound, after Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) singled and Bobby Abreu doubled in first-inning runs against Nick Blackburn.
“They play the game at a fast pace, and it’s good to see and it’s the way we have to go about doing it,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.
Albert Pujols didn’t get a ball out of the infield in four at-bats, but he reached on a fielder’s choice, hustled from first to third on a single to center and scored the Angels’ first run.
Blackburn (0-1) was charged with 5 runs over 6 innings, but he recorded 15 consecutive outs in one stretch and surrendered just 5 hits.
Wilson was slated as their fourth starter. He walked four. Jamey Carroll drew a two-out walk in the third and Joe Mauer followed with a sharp single, but Justin Morneau ended the inning with a weak tap back to the mound. Carroll followed a fifth-inning walk with a double play grounder.
“I think you saw the umpire get hit a few times on swings and misses.That’s how much his ball was moving,” Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire said. “The guy was a closer, and that’s what he does out there.”
The Twins last started 0-4 in 1969. They haven’t held a lead yet and have been outscored 20-6.
WHITE SOX 4, INDIANS 2 Chris Sale won his first career start by limiting hitters to one run in 6 2/3 innings and leading Chicago over host Cleveland.
YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 2 New York won for the first time this season, using four hits by Derek Jeter and an effective pitching performance by Ivan Nova to beat host Baltimore.
RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 2 Ryan Sweeney singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and Boston rallied to beat host Toronto.
RANGERS 11, MARINERS 5 Yu Darvish overcame a rocky start and got a big boost from the lineup in host Texas’ victory over Seattle.Nelson Cruz hit a three-run home run in the third for Texas to tie the game at 5-5, then Mitch Moreland and Josh Hamilton both homered in the fourth to give Darvish an 8-5 lead. Ian Kinsler added a three-run blast in the eighth.
NATIONAL LEAGUE MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 2 Anibal Sanchez took a three-hitter into the seventh, Omar Infante hit two home runs and Miami spoiled Philadelphia’s home opener. Sanchez (1-0) allowed 2 runs and 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings, out pitching two time All-Star Cole Hamels (0-1). Gaby Sanchez had two hits and two RBI, Emilio Bonifacio had three hits and Austin Kearns hit a home run off Jonathan Papelbon.
GIANTS 7, ROCKIES 0 Barry Zito threw a four-hitter for his first shutout in nine years and Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run home run to lead San Francisco to a victory over host Colorado. Zito (1-0) allowed three singles and a double. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.
CARDINALS 7, REDS 1 Matt Holliday, David Freese and Yadier Molina homered in the first inning, and Jake Westbrook found his control after a rough start as St. Louis beat host Cincinnati.
METS 4, NATIONALS 3 Daniel Murphy singled home the winning run in the ninth inning and undefeated host New York beat Washington.
BREWERS 7, CUBS 5 Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs in his return to Wrigley Field as Milwaukee hung on to beat host Chicago.
ASTROS 8, BRAVES 3 Travis Buck drove in two runs, Justin Maxwell homered in his debut and host Houston beat Atlanta. The loss drops Atlanta to 0-4 for the first time since losing 10 consecutive to open the 1988 season.
Monday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami 6, Philadelphia 2
San Francisco 7, Colorado 0
Milwaukee 7, Chicago Cubs 5
St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 1
NY Mets 4, Washington 3
Houston 8, Atlanta 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
LA Angels 5, Minnesota 1
Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland 2
NY Yankees 6, Baltimore 2
Boston 4, Toronto 2
Texas 11, Seattle 5
Kansas City at Oakland, (n)
Sports, Pages 18 on 04/10/2012