David Price left no doubt about his worthiness as Detroit’s opening day starter, coming within one out of a shutout in the Tigers’ 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Price retired the first 13 Minnesota batters and allowed five hits before being pulled with two on and two out in the ninth. Joe Nathan struck out Torii Hunter for the save, although Hunter argued to plate umpire Joe West that he checked his swing.
The Twins lost in their first game under new manager Paul Molitor.
J.D. Martinez and Alex Avila homered off Phil Hughes, and Yoenis Cespedes tripled and scored in his Detroit debut. Cespedes also reached above the wall in left to catch Kurt Suzuki’s drive in the third.
The Tigers acquired Price at last year’s trade deadline, and manager Brad Ausmus picked him to start opening day, snapping Justin Verlander’s seven-year streak of openers.
