The home opening games:

We have a long history of opening games now and I got to wondering what our record is. Here is the summary of games.

1961 – Our first opening game was 1961 and who did we play – the new replacement Washington Senators. Pascual pitched and went 8 innings with three runs and reliever Moore gave up two and lost the game. Mincher and Green hit HRs. 3 – 5

1962 – Los Angeles Angels clobbered us 12 – 5. Jim Kaat started and gave up 4 in 4. Versalles, Green and Rollins hit HRs.

1963 – we lost our third straight opener – 4 – 5 to Cleveland. Pascual 5 runs in 7 innings. Green had a third opening game HR in three seasons and Vic Power added a HR.

1964 – finally we won, playing the Senators again and winning 7 – 6. Pleis won, but Kaat started and made it for 2/3 inning giving up 4 runs. Rollins, Oliva and Mincher slugged HRs.

1965 – Two in a row – this time 5 – 4 against the Yankees. Kaat went nine innings, but we won in 10 and a pitcher named Fosnow got the win. No HRs.

1966 – We beat KC 2 – 1. Mudcat Grant pitched a full game and won. No HRs

1967 – we beat the Tigers 5 – 3. Four in a row. Boswell went seven and Merritt ended the game and got the win. Allision and Versalles hit HRs.

1968 – Versus the Senators for the third opener in our short history. We won 13 – 1. Jim Merritt pitched a complete game. Killebrew, Hernandez and Tovar HRs.

1969 – We beat the Angels 6 – 0 giving us six openers in a row. Tommy Hall threw a complete game shutout. No HRs

1970 – Oakland went down 8 – 2. Kaat complete game win. No HRs.

1971 – The Brewers broke the winning streak 2 – 7. Perry went only 4.1 innings and took the loss. No HRs.

1972 – Back to winning 8 – 4 over Oakland. Blyleven complete game win. Darwin HRs for Twins.

1973 – Oakland 8 – 4 again – déjà vu. Kaat won, Hisle and Darwin HRs.

1974 – Twins over White Sox – 3 – 1. Blyleven wins and Hisle HRs.

1975 – The Angels beat us 3 – 7. Goltz gave up six.

1976 – White Sox beat us 1 – 4. Blyleven start and loss.

1977 – Oakland beat us 2 – 3. Thormodsgard (WHO?) was our opening day starter. Carew hit a HR.

1978 – We beat the Mariners 14 – 5. Zahn pitched complete game victory.

1979 – the Angels shut us out 0 – 6. Goltz loss giving up 5 in 4.1 innings.

1980 – Beat the Angels 8 – 1. Zahn complete game win and Smalley HR.

1981 – Loss to Oakland 1 – 5. Koosman 7 innings and 4 runs.

1982 – Seattle Mariners loss 7 – 11. Redfern loss, Engle and Gaetti HRs.

1983 – Loss to Detroit 3 – 11. A real WHO? – Havens starts and gives up 8 in 1.1 innings.

1984 – Detroit beat us 1 – 8. Williams ??? our starter. 6 in 6.1.

1985 – Angels beat us 0 – 5. Zahn beats his old team and Smithson continues the no-name set of opening starters and gives up 5 in 7.

1986 – We beat the Mariners 5 – 1. Blyleven won and that famous closer – Davis got the save. Gaetti and Brunansky HRs.

1987 – Victory over Oakland 5 – 4. Blyleven won and Frazier Save. Puckett HR.

1988 – Blue Jays lost 6 – 3. Blyleven one, Reardon save – three in a row, three different closers. Gladden and Gaetti HRs.

1989 – Viola lost to the Yankees 2 – 4.

1990 – Twins beat Angels 13 – 1. Tapani 8 shutout innings. Puckett and Harper HRs.

1991 – Twins shut out Angels 6 – 0. Tapani shut out.

1992 – Twins beat Texas 7 – 1. Tapani gave up one run and won. Mack HR.

1993 – White Sox won 5 – 10. Bad day for Tapani with 9 runs in 3 innings. Puckett and Winfield gave us two HOF HRs.

1994 – Loss 2 – 8 to the Angels. Tapani had another bad one – 7 runs in 3.1 innings. Munoz and Winfield HRs.

1995 – We beat the Oriols 7 – 4. Tapani gave up 3 in 5 innings and Aquilera saved.

1996 – Twins 8 – Tigers 6. Radtke six innings and one run. Stahoviak home run.

1997 – Twins 7 – Tigers 5. Radtke gave up 5 in 5 and Aquilera won. Pat Meares HR.

1998 – KC Royals won 5 – 9. Radke gave up 5 in 5 again. Ortiz HR.

1999 – We beat the Blue Jays 6 – 1. Radtke went seven for the victory.

2000 – Twins lost 7 – 0 to Tampa Bay. Radtke gave up 6 in 5 to continue a mediocre, at best, opening game record.

2001 – Twins 11 – Detroit 5. Radtke again 7.1 innings 3 runs. Mientkiewicz and Guzman HRs.

2002 – Twins 4 – Tigers 2. Radtke 6.2 – 2 runs.

2003 – Twins 2 – Blue Jay 7. Another no name opening day starter – Reed – pitched six and gave up 4. Mientkiewicz HR.

2004 – Twins beat Indians 7 – 4. Radtke 6 and 4 runs. Rincon won. Shannon Steward HR.

2005 – We lost to White Sox 1 – 5. Lohse lost 5.1 innings, 4 runs.

2006 – Twins 7 – Oakland 6. Radtke 7 Innings, 4 runs. Bautista and Morneau HR.

2007 – Twins 7 – Baltimore 4. Santana won. Six innings and four runs. Morneau and Hunter HRs.

2008 – Twins 3 – Angels 2. Livan Hernandez won.

2009 – Twins 1 – Mariners 6. Liriano lost – 7 innings, 4 runs.

2010 – Twins 5 – Boston 2. Pavano won and Kubel HR.

2011 – Twins 2 – Oakland 1. Pavano and Nathan for the Twins.

2012 – Twins 1 – Angels 5. Blackburn 6 innings, 5 runs. Willingham HR

2013 – Twins 2 – Tigers 4. Worley – remember him! – lost.

2014 – Twins 3 – Oakland 8. Correia and Deduno took the mound.

2015 – The Royals beat us 3 – 12. May started and gave up 5 in 5. Plouffe HR.

2016 – Twins 1 – White Sox 4. Gibson lost.

2017 – Twins 7 – Royals 1. Santana won. Sano HR

2018 – Twins 4 – Mariners 2. Gibson start, Duke win, Rodney save. Sano and Garver HR.

2019 – Twins 2 – Indians 0. Berrios start and won. Rogers Save.

The Twins have a 33 – 16 home opener record!

In Season openers there is a different set of statistics. Pedro Ramos started the very first season opener in 1961. Radtke had the most season opening starts and Blyleven was second.