MLB wrap: Verlander, Tigers open with cool win over Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The defending American League champion Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 to open their Major League Baseball season Monday, while the Boston Red Sox got off to a quick start after a dreadful 2012 season by downing the New York Yankees 8-2.

In the National League, the defending NL East champion Washington Nationals opened the season with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the San Francisco Giants 4-0.

Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander won on opening day for the first time in six attempts, pitching five shutout innings at frosty Target Field. Verlander (1-0) had been 0-1 in his previous five openers. Phil Coke got the last two outs for the first save by the Tigers' closer committee.

Prince Fielder, wearing a black ski covering on his head, had two hits and an RBI to help spoil the first Twins start by Vance Worley (0-1).

At New York, Jon Lester gave new manager Red Sox manager John Farrell an opening day win over the depleted Yankees.

Newcomer Shane Victorino led a revamped Red Sox batting lineup with three RBIs and rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. walked three times and scored twice in his big league debut. Boston's big day against CC Sabathia (0-1) came a year after it lost its first three games under Bobby Valentine and went on to a 69-93 finish.

Facing a Yankees lineup minus injured Derek Jeter for the first time since 2001 and just three starters from opening day a year ago, Lester (1-0) gave up five hits and two runs in five sharp innings against the defending AL East champions.

Bryce Harper homered in his first two at-bats for Washington and Stephen Strasburg retired 19 batters in a row at one stretch.

Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Harper, a 20-year-old outfielder, hit solo shots over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field off Ricky Nolasco in the first and fourth innings.

Dodger Clayton Kershaw launched his first career home run to break a scoreless deadlock in the eighth inning, then finished off a four-hitter that led the Los Angeles past San Francisco.

Kershaw became the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run in an opener since Bob Lemon for Cleveland in 1953, STATS said.

Kershaw struck out seven, walked none and retired World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval on a grounder to end it.

Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese stepped nicely into his new role as No. 1 starter and Collin Cowgill capped a successful New York debut with a grand slam in a 11-2 rout of the San Diego Padres.

In other NL games, the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1, the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Colorado Rockies 5-4 over 10 innings, the Atlanta Braves were 7-5 winners over the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2.

In the AL games, the Chicago White Sox shut out the Kansas City Royals 1-0 and the Seattle Mariners blanked the Oakland Athletics 2-0. The Los Angeles Angels beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 over 13 innings in the only interleague game.