Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — C.J. Wilson won his awaited Angels debut with seven smooth innings, giving Los Angeles all the boost it needed to beat the Twins 5-1 on Monday and spoil Minnesota’s home opener.
Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits while striking out five, giving up only one fly ball, a home run by Josh Willingham. Wilson, who struck out Joe Mauer twice, had a 2-0 lead before he even touched the mound, after Torii Hunter’s single and Bobby Abreu’s double drove in first-inning runs against Nick Blackburn.
Albert Pujols didn’t get a ball out of the infield in four at-bats, but he reached on a fielder’s choice, hustled from first to third on a single to center and scored the Angels’ first run. Pujols is 3 for 14 through four games, with one run batted in.
Blackburn (0-1) was charged with five runs over six innings, but he recorded 15 straight outs in one stretch and surrendered just five hits, a decent first start after two straight rough seasons.