Anibal Sanchez was outstanding in his first start of the season. ‘Ol Dirty lasted 6 2/3 innings out in the cold of Comerica, surrendering only three hits and no runs.

It wasn’t as warm as opening day. I saw Sanchez pitch on my brother’s birthday (April 16) last year when it was equally cold. We lost a close 3-2 game where all their scoring came early when our pitcher couldn’t find his grip.

We traded for a Latin American player from the Miami Marlins. His body hadn’t acclimated to the cold. This time, he was prepared. Instead of fighting the cold (which doesn’t let you grip the ball proper), he slowed his velocity down to increase his accuracy.

It worked. The first three Twins popped out on six pitches. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s starter resisted the weather, snarling at it and forcing wild pitches. We were willing to fly out, too, but his lack of command jump started our awareness.

In the end, our whole team batted around with an array of hits and walks, never the long ball. Alex Avila led the way with three walks, working the bottom of the order with his new counterpart Jose Iglesias. The tandem combined to score seven runs, reaching base in all nine plate appearances.

The top of the order followed suit. Anthony Gose was a home run away from the cycle, and Ian Kinsler drove in four runs. At one point, Gose and Kinsler hit consecutive triples, aided by atrocious Twins fielding.

The bullpen put out all fires promptly. Angel Nesbitt debuted and finished off Sanchez’s 7th, then Ian Krol struck out two in a perfect 8th. We got our first taste of Al-Al with a base hit in the ninth, but even he managed to get two outs. Joakim Soria completed an 11-0 shutout, the first time in Detroit Tigers history we’ve started the season with 18 scoreless.