Cruz hits a pair of homers as Twins dominate Tigers
Nelson Cruz hit a drive just foul down the line in right field, narrowly missing a grand slam.
The play was reviewed and the call was upheld — but Cruz could have saved everyone some time if he’d known what would happen on the very next pitch.
Cruz cleared the bases with a home run — this time pulling the ball to left — and the Minnesota Twins were well on their way to a 15-6 rout of the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
Cruz added a solo homer and a double, and Matt Shoemaker held Detroit hitless into the fifth inning.
Akil Baddoo hit a grand slam for the Tigers in the ninth, but by then the game was well out of hand. The 22-year-old made his big league debut Sunday and homered on the first pitch thrown to him.
Cruz came up with the bases loaded in the second and the Twins already up 2-0. After his near miss, he connected to cap a five-run inning. Minnesota added five more runs in the fifth, when Cruz hit his solo shot.
Limited to pinch-hitting duty in Minnesota’s opening series at Milwaukee, Cruz was back in his normal role with the return of the designated hitter to the Twins’ lineup. After hitting his two homers, he doubled and scored in the sixth.
ROYALS 3, INDIANS 0 >> Danny Duffy pitched six innings of two-hit ball to beat a longtime nemesis and Whit Merrifield drove in all of Kansas City’s runs with a homer and sacrifice fly, leading the Royals over the Cleveland Indians.
The Indians played their home opener in front of fans for the first time since 2019. The announced attendance of 8,914 —- 30% of ballpark capacity was permitted — was a nice change from last season, when fans couldn’t attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety protocols.
Duffy (1-0) came in with 12 career losses against the Indians
CARDINALS 4, MARLINS 1 >> Yadier Molina hit a bases-loaded double during a three-run first inning, Daniel Ponce de Leon and the St. Louis bullpen protected the lead, and the Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins.
YANKEES 7, ORIOLES 0 >> Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam over the visitors’ bullpen that landed in the left-bleachers 471 feet from home plate, leading the New York Yankees over Baltimore for the Orioles their first loss.