Andrew Albers threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings in his major-league debut in Minnesota’s win in Kansas City on Tuesday. No other Twins pitcher has thrown more than seven scoreless innings in his first game in the big leagues since the team arrived in Minnesota (from Washington) in 1961.
Brian Dozier and Justin Morneau each hit first-inning homers off James Shields on Tuesday. It was only the second time that Shields has allowed two homers in the first inning of a game. The first instance was at Coors Field on June 15, 2007, when Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe went back-to-back against Shields.