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Morneau, Hunter provide muscle as Santana, Twins win

Apr 3, 2007 - 3:53 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It was anything but a vintage performance by two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, but it was good enough to keep alive his Metrodome mastery.

Santana labored through six innings to win his 17th straight regular-season home decision and Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter sparked the offense as the Minnesota Twins posted a 7-4 Opening Day victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Although the talented lefthander lost to Oakland here in the American League Division Series last season, Santana has not been beaten at home in the regular season since August 1, 2005 - a span of 24 starts.

"I'm just trying to do my job and the team was hitting," Santana said. "That stuff isn't in my head, I just try to enjoy myself and do my job."

In his latest home triumph, Santana (1-0) allowed four runs and seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

"Johan will always give us a chance and that's a great hitting lineup," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Whenever you make a mistake, they hit it. But he's Johan, he finds a way to get it done and finds a way to get wins."

Although he gave up the most earned runs in a home game since allowing four on May 23, 2006 against Cleveland, the Orioles still could not muster enough offense.

"He was spotting very well," Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons said. "Our approach was to be aggressive because he'll attack you early. And when you get down in the count on him, that's when he is dominant."

Santana was not the only Minnesota superstar doing his job.

After hitting back-to-back homers in the second inning off Baltimore starter Erik Bedard to open the scoring, Morneau, the reigning Most Valuable Player, and Hunter contributed to a three-run rally in the decisive fifth.

Luis Castillo singled and scored on a passed ball following Nick Punto's ground-rule double to snap a 3-3 tie before Morneau singled home a run and Hunter doubled in another insurance run for a 6-3 edge.

Bedard then departed after being tagged for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

"I think he threw well early," Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. "He gave up two homers, but against two guys who are paid to do that. I think Erik has matured enough that he'll come back and learn something from this and be even better."

Morneau finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Hunter was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Castillo also had a big day at the plate with three hits.

All three of Morneau's hits came against Bedard, improving to 8-for-14 in his career against his fellow Canadian with a pair of home runs.

"I come in the game and think he's nasty," Morneau said. "He's their ace for a reason. I don't know if it's extra focus or what, since you have to be at your best against him. I try not to question it too much."

After Santana yielded a sixth-inning homer to Miguel Tejada, he turned it over to last year's best bullpen. Three relievers combined for two scoreless innings before Joe Nathan worked around a two-out walk for his first save.

Aubrey Huff and Gibbons joined Tejada with two hits for Baltimore, which had its major-league best streak of six straight Opening Day victories snapped.