Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Gonzalez tied the game with an RBI triple in the seventh and then won it with a run-scoring single in the ninth, as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Opening Day at Comerica Park. With the game tied 3-3 in the home half of the ninth, Alex Avila worked a one- out walk off Wade Davis (0-1) before being replaced by pinch-runner Tyler Collins making his major league debut. Collins then moved to third on Nick Castellanos' single to right-center field before Kansas City closer Greg Holland entered to face Gonzalez, who ripped a single to left to plate Collins for the deciding run. Joe Nathan (1-0), who signed with the Tigers as a free agent in the offseason, spun a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to pick up the victory. Justin Verlander made his seventh straight Opening Day start for Detroit and surrendered three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks over six frames. Victor Martinez stroked a solo home run for the defending AL Central champion Tigers, who made a winner out of Brad Ausmus in his managerial debut. Ausmus took the reins this offseason from Jim Leyland, who retired after leading the Tigers to their third straight ALCS appearance. Salvador Perez went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Royals, who finished the 2013 season with their highest win total (86) since 1989, despite missing the playoffs for the 28th straight season. Kansas City starter James Shields was charged for three runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Final Score: Philadelphia 14, Texas 10
Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Cody Asche finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored four times, Jimmy Rollins slugged a grand slam, and the Philadelphia Phillies produced their most runs on Opening Day since 1900 with a 14-10 victory over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. Rollins' bases- loaded blast in the second was his 200th career home run and highlighted a six-run frame for the Phillies, who pounded out 17 hits and racked up their most runs on Opening Day since posting a 19-17 victory over the Boston Beaneaters on Opening Day, 1900. Ben Revere went 3-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Asche and John Mayberry each drove in two runs in the victory. Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee (1-0) picked up the win despite being hammered for eight runs on 11 hits over five frames. Alex Rios stroked a three-run homer among his three hits and scored three times, while Josh Wilson went 2-for-3 with three RBI for the Rangers, who went 91-72 last season, but missed out on the postseason for the first time in four years. Texas first baseman Prince Fielder, who the team acquired for second baseman Ian Kinsler in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers over the winter, finished 1- for-5 with a run scored in the setback. Tanner Scheppers made his first career start for the Rangers, but was shelled for seven runs on eight hits over four frames. Pedro Figueroa (0-1) was pegged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in 1 2/3 frames.
Final Score: Baltimore 2, Boston 1
Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Nelson Cruz made quite a first impression in his Baltimore Orioles' debut, belting a tie-breaking solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that lifted his new team to a 2-1 Opening Day win over the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. Cruz, signed by the Orioles just prior to the start of spring training after finding a cold market in free agency, smacked the first pitch he saw from Jon Lester into the left-field seats of his new home park to snap a 1-1 tie in the seventh. The former Texas slugger also scored Baltimore's other run after reaching on a walk in his initial at-bat. The blast made a winner out of Zach Britton (1-0), who twirled two scoreless innings in relief of starter Chris Tillman. Tommy Hunter got out of a jam in the ninth to protect the one-run lead and secure his first save of the season. Cruz's homer also spoiled a memorable return to the majors for Red Sox outfielder Grady Sizemore, who went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in his first big league outing since Sept. 22, 2011. However, Boston failed to provide any other support for Lester (0-1), who fanned eight over seven innings but gave up both Baltimore runs in a hard-luck defeat. The Red Sox stranded 12 runners and went 0-for-10 with men in scoring position.
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