When the Twins opened up Target Field in April of 2010, they played host to the Boston Red Sox. This afternoon, the Twins sent a split-squad team across Ft. Myers to play against the Red Sox in the first game in the new jetBlue Park at Fenway South. The near-Fenway clone is a beautiful park, and Twins fans should be excited about it because the Twins also are getting money for renovations and improvements to Hammond Stadium.

The Twins won their inaugural Target Field game 5-2. The Red Sox won their inaugural jetBlue game by a score of 8-2.

It was actually a really good game much of the way. The Twins scored a run in the top of the 7^th to tie the game at two apiece.

Minor League Free Agent Jason Bulger came into the game for the Twins in the bottom of the 7^th and it didn’t go so well. He recorded just one out. He walked four batters, and then he threw a strike to Lars Anderson who drilled a long, grand slam to right field. Daryl Thompson came in and got the final two outs of the 7^th frame. He gave up one run in the 8^th as well.

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Francisco Liriano started, and although he walked the first batter he faced, he threw two scoreless innings. Jared Burton, another minor league free agent with a chance to make the roster, pitched a 1-2-3 third inning. Phil Dumatrait gave up two runs (just one earned) on two hits and a walk in his inning. Esmerling Vasquez gave up two hits, but no runs, in his inning. Kyle Waldrop pitched a scoreless inning as well.

Ben Revere went 2-4 with a walk and a stolen base for the Twins. Ray Chang was 1-1 with two walks. He had a great diving play on a ground ball up the middle. The scary part of the game came when he was hit in the head on a slide into second base and immediately left the game. Later it was reported that he is now day-to-day.

On the other side, Tsuyoshi Nishioka went 0-5. It is the Twins first loss of the Grapefruit League.

(Note – This game will air on MLB Network at 7:00 central time tonight. Monday night’s game against the Red Sox game will air on Fox Sports North at 6:00. If you’re able, be sure to join John Bonnes and Aaron Gleeman for their Gleeman and the Geek podcast event while watching the game at the Wild Boar in Hopkins.)