Percival Finally Saves One

Troy Percival saved at least 30 games in each of the last seven seasons.

This year, it took him almost a month to close out a win.

In his seventh outing of the season, Percival pitched a perfect ninth inning for Detroit’s first save and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-4, on Monday at Detroit.

“I’ve never gone this long at the beginning of a season without a save, but I kept telling myself that today would be the day,” said Percival, a former Angel. “I had better stuff today than I have all year.”

The Tigers had blown all seven save opportunities before Percival struck out two of the three batters he faced. Detroit was the last team in the majors to record a save.

The game was a make-up for the first of two games postponed by a spring snowstorm Saturday and Sunday. The attendance was announced at 14,976, but it looked as if barely 1,000 showed up to Comerica Park to watch Jason Johnson face Brad Radke on a 50-degree day.

“It’s always tough when you have a couple days off,” Tiger Manager Alan Trammell said. “But we played a crisp game.”

After Carlos Guillen’s single chased Radke, Juan Rincon (2-1) gave up a single by Rondell White and walked Dmitri Young to load the bases. Craig Monroe lined a RBI single to left, tying the score.

The Tigers added a run in the eighth when Nook Logan stole third and scored when catcher Joe Mauer’s throw went into left field.

Kyle Farnsworth (1-0) got the win, despite giving up a run in one-third of an inning.

Chicago 6, Oakland 0 -- Jon Garland pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout and Chris Widger broke open a scoreless game in the seventh with a two-run homer at Oakland to lead the White Sox to their eighth consecutive victory.

Widger’s homer was the backup catcher’s first in the majors since Aug. 9, 2000, and it propelled Chicago to yet another impressive win.

The White Sox improved to 10-2 on the road, their best start since they won the AL pennant in 1959.

Garland (4-0), who is off to the best start of his career, got his first career victory over the A’s.

Baltimore 8, Boston 4 -- B. J. Surhoff hit a two-run homer and Bruce Chen pitched effectively into the seventh inning, leading the Orioles over the Red Sox at Boston.

Todd Williams escaped a two-on, none-out jam in the seventh by getting Edgar Renteria to bounce into a double play and Manny Ramirez to ground to short.