The Detroit Tigers took on the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. David Price got the start and helped the Tigers come away with a 4-0 win. For the first time in seven years, Justin Verlander did not pitch Opening Day. 

Price (W: 1-0, 0.00 ERA) got the first 13 hitters out before he gave up a single to Kennys Vargas in the fifth inning. However, he allowed five hits in all before he was pulled after allowing two straight singles with two outs in the ninth inning. 

''It's always big to go out there and put up zeroes and pitch late into the game,'' Price said. ''To be able to do it on Opening Day, that definitely makes it a little bit more special. I felt good.''

Joe Nathan (SV: 0-0, 0.00) struck out former Tiger Torii Hunter to get the save. 

'It never surprises me when David pitches like that - he's one of the best in the business for a reason,'' Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. ''With us being fresh out of Spring Training, we were thinking 100-105 pitches, so when [Joe] Mauer came up, I went out and checked on him and told him that was his last hitter no matter what.''

J.D. Martinez got the party started and hit the first home run of the Tigers' 2015 season in the second inning. He launched it off Twins starter Phil Hughes. Alex Avila decided to get in on the fun, so he hit a two-run homer off Hughes in the second inning as well. 

Detroit traded away Rick Porcello for Yoenis Cespedes, and it looks as if it is already paying off for the Tigers. Cespedes robbed Kurt Suzuki's hit that would have gone for a home run. Later, he tripled and doubled. Cespedes scored after both those hits. 

Hughes (L: 0-1, 6.00) gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out six hitters. 

Hunter, whom Nathan struck out to end it, got a standing ovation before the game. However, after the game he was not so happy with Joe West's called third strike to end the game. Hunter was furious.

''I think he had dinner reservations or a concert to play in,'' Hunter said. ''But that was terrible. We come out and do our job every day - that's what I do. I come ready to play, do my job, I battle at the plate. We ask you to do your job as well, and Joe West needs to do his job, and he didn't do it well.''

''I thought he swung, so I said he swung," said the umprie. "They're all great players, and any time you get called out at the end of the game on something like that, they're going to be upset, so I understand that.''

The two teams have Tuesday off, but the Tigers (1-0) will meet with the Twins (0-1) again on Wednesday. The Tigers will send Anibal Sanchez to the hill to face off against Ricky Nolasco of the Twins. 

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About the author
Evan Petzold
Evan Petzold is a Detroit-based journalist with expertise in covering the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. A member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) and Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DBSA), he brings a unique skill set in reporting and broadcasting to the table.