Detroit Tigers decimate Minnesota Twins to move to 2-0

Last year the Detroit Tigers couldn’t wait until the Minnesota Twins left town. This year they would like to petition Major League Baseball to play them 162 times per year.

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This is because the Tigers jumped on the Twins early and often while Anibal Sanchez quieted Minnesota bats for a second straight game, shutting them out 11-0. It marked the first time in franchise history (115 years) that the Detroit Tigers have started the season by pitching back-to-back shutouts.

While the Tigers allowed 109 runs against the Twins last season, and were the only AL Central team that they posted a losing record against in 2014, it has been an entirely different story through two games.

The air was extremely cold in Detroit but the bats were red-hot and several unlikely candidates continued their scorching start.

Consider these numbers:

• Jose Iglesias reached base in all five at-bats, notching four hits (!) and a walk. He scored three runs and raised his average to .857. Seriously
• Alex Avila also reached base in all of his at-bats, walking thrice, notching a hit and scoring four runs.
• As he did last year, Ian Kinsler is raking to start the year, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. He was almost 3-for-4 if not for a solid defensive effort from Torii Hunter in right field.
• Anthony Gose appeared in his first game as a Tiger and continued the success from Spring Training. He went 3-for-6, including a triple.
• Miguel Cabrera picked up his first two hits of the season.
• The only starters without hits were Victor Martinez and Nick Castellanos

As you can see from these numbers, Detroit was able to score at will against Minnesota pitching with six of their runs coming in 3+ innings of work for starter Ricky Nolasco.

On the pitching side of things, Anibal Sanchez picked up right where David Price left off, throwing 6.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits, two walks with six strikeouts.

Anibal tired in the seventh inning after throwing 101 pitches and was removed in favor of Angel Nesbitt who recorded an out to the only batter faced in his Major League Debut.

Ian Krol, Al Alburquerque and Joakim Soria finished up the day and preserved the shutout for the Tigers.

The Tigers will try to prevent the Twins from scoring their first run of 2015 when the teams play in the series finale tomorrow at 1:08.

Shane Greene will start his first game in the Olde English D and be opposed by Kyle Gibson.

Next: Verlander on DL; to miss first start