Final
Hunter faces former team on Opening Day
Mar 31, 2008 - 12:52 PM LA Angels (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0) 7:05 pm EDTMINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Torii Hunter's debut for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could be an emotional one.
The Angels open their season Monday against the Minnesota Twins, the team on which Hunter was a star for the past decade.
In 11 seasons with the Twins, Hunter captured seven straight Gold Gloves as one of the game's best center fielders. He also made two All-Star Game appearances, batting .271 with 192 home runs and 711 RBI.
Minnesota, opting to begin its youth movement sooner rather than later, opted to allow Hunter to walk as a free agent and he signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Angels.
The Twins also traded ace Johan Santana - another fixture in Minnesota - to the New York Mets for four players.
The trade of Santana leaves a gaping void at the top of the Twins' rotation. For now, the No. 1 starter is free agent pickup Livan Hernandez, who will pitch Monday's opener.
However, after Hernandez, a 12-year veteran, the Twins have nothing but inexperience in their rotation.
The Angels have been hit hard by injuries as their top two starters - John Lackey (strained triceps) and Kelvim Escobar (shoulder inflammation) - already have been ruled out for April and perhaps beyond.
As a result, Jered Weaver will make the first Opening Day start of his career. The 25-year-old righthander went 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA last season.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 9 0
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 x 3 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: LAA - JERED WEAVER, DARREN OLIVER (7TH), DARREN O'DAY (8TH) AND MIKE
NAPOLI
MIN - LIVAN HERNANDEZ, PAT NESHEK (8TH), JOE NATHAN
(9TH) AND JOE MAUER
HOME RUNS: LA
Mar 31 9:51 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED CARLOS GOMEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 2
MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.000, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Angels 2, Twins 3 Bot 5, 0 OutsMar 31 8:42 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHONE FIGGINS SCORED HOWIE KENDRICK.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C FIGGINS ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 2
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS (.000, 0-FOR-2)
Angels 2, Twins 2 Top 5, 0 OutsMar 31 8:32 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
MAICER IZTURIS HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING CASEY KOTCHMAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H KENDRICK ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.500, 1-FOR-2)
Angels 1, Twins 2 Top 5, 0 OutsMar 31 8:29 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIKE LAMB SCORED DELMON YOUNG.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LAMB ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: B HARRIS (.000, 0-FOR-1)
Angels 0, Twins 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsMar 31 8:15 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOE MAUER SCORED CARLOS GOMEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MAUER ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Angels 0, Twins 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsMar 31 7:21 PM
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