Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page C10

That theory took a beating Monday. Radke figured the first batter would bunt, because the Tigers softened the dirt in front of home plate, and he pounced when Gene Kingsale did so. Only a missed call at first base enabled King- sale to reach. Radke noticed early that he grip the ball well enough to effectively throw his changeup. So he instead concentrated on spotting his fastball, throwing the change just often enough to worry hitters.

and out, up and down, he used that fastball Gardenhire said. had some jump on it, too. why you were seeing so many Catcher A.J. Pierzynski said, having the changeup in the back of the minds makes a big difference. Brad never let them get Pitcher Joe Mays said, always inspiring to watch Brad pitch.

He goes into a game with a plan, and he rarely varies from it. why he can make it look so Radke have to alter his plan much until the sev- enth, when Bobby Higginson came up with two outs and one on, representing the tying run. Radke walked him. This was not accidental. can hit one out, and tie it up Radke said.

a lefthanded guy with power, and I want to give him anything to hit. The next guy up was Palmer, a righty. I felt like I had a better chance with The decision work out perfectly, but that for a lack of planning. Radke walked Higginson, then got Palmer to hit a weak roller to third. Omar Infante scored from second on the play, and Gardenhire sprinted to the mound.

told him, pitched great, you did your job, early in the season, give it to the Gardenhire said. buying it, but I got the Taking the ball from Radke at that juncture might have been a good decision. Giving it to him on Opening Day certainly was. there are those in the organization who think he does no thinking on the mound that he just catches the ball, gets the signal and throws. I said, know, Brad, but already got the ball in my I stole it out of his Said Radke: going to give it to him, but I forgot it was in my glove.

He snatched it out of there before I knew it. I told him, careful sticking your hand in there. You might not get it Relievers J.C. Romero and Eddie Guardado got the last seven outs, and Radke had his latest victory over the Tigers. In his past 12 starts against Detroit, Radke is 10-0.

are some teams I pitch good Radke said. there are teams I pitch so well pitching routine is so simple, so unhesitating, that DETROIT Brad Radke, stoic. Brad Radke, unthinking automaton. These are the images steady pitching and low-key personality have fostered entering his ninth year with the Twins. These are the images that are eroding before our eyes.

In his first playoff appearance in Oakland last fall, Radke blew his top and almost dismantled a bathroom after an embarrassing fielding display. Then he hollered at his teammates, won the game and compiled a 1.96 ERA in three playoff starts. Monday, Radke cruised through six innings, facing the minimum 18 batters, before encountering trouble in the seventh. With two outs, one run in, two runners on and the Twins holding a 2-1 lead, manager Ron Gardenhire arrived at the mound to remove him. already gotten my first tongue-lashing of the Gardenhire said later.

said, really want you out SPORTS PAGE C10 APRIL 1 2003 There were runners on first and second with one out. Matthew LeCroy hit a chopper toward second. It was the only time in four at-bats Monday that LeCroy did not hit a ball hard. This was a routine double play. Detroit lefthander Mike Maroth was out of the inning, still down two runs.

The big miss increased in importance in the seventh, when the Tigers finally pieced together a run against Brad Radke. He was making his seventh Opening Day start and was magnificent this time, even considering the questionable firepower of the opposition. The run came when Dean Palmer beat out an infield hit, and rookie Omar Infante kept cantering and scored from second. Two outs, two on, a 2-1 game, and Gardenhire came to get Radke in favor of J.C. Romero.

Gardenhire knew he was going to get an argument, so he swiped the ball from glove before the conversation started. Romero retired Carlos Pena, so it was still 2-1. rookie manager, Alan Trammell, wanted to keep it right there, so he brought in lefthander Jamie Walker to open the eighth against A.J. Pierzynski. Walker was taking a giant stride to his left and then delivering sidearm.

Pierzynski and Doug Mientkiewicz agreed that Walker has exaggerated the sidearm part of his motion since last season. Walker has one goal with this: to get lefthand- ed hitters to flinch. flinch on the first slider he hitting coach Scott Ullger said. just missed it. I said in the dugout, Walker throws that pitch again, A.J.’s going to yank it out of The count was 1-2 when Walker threw another flat slider.

A.J. kept his head and his backside at home, then brought through his hands and blasted a home run to the back wall of the right- field bullpen. Gardenhire had his extra run. Soon, the Twins had opened their season of big expectations with a 3-1 victory. They did not play clean in the field, they did not come through in the sixth, they had a base-running misadventure by Luis Rivas, and it added to a victory.

home run was not the biggest blow Dustan two-run homer filled that description but it certainly made his manager feel less anxiety as Romero and Eddie Guardado were getting the last six outs. Pierzynski said he had been jumping at pitches from Maroth, a speed-changing lefty. Against Walker, Pierzynski said, want to stay as deep as you In other words, he wanted to wait as long as possible before committing. Pierzynski did precisely that and sent the ball the same direction and distance as his series-winning home run off Bill Koch in the playoffs last fall. was Gardenhire said of swing.

This also could have been a reference to the throw Pierzynski made to get Gene Kingsale. He had bunted to open first and was called safe (wrongly, replays showed) by first-base umpire Bill Hohn. When Trammell sent him, Pierzynski threw a Gardenhire said, and Kingsale was out. That was lone baserunner through six innings against Radke. Great throw, great swing, but the subject be A.J.

if there were not an odd moment. Kingsale hit a foul popup with two outs in the eighth. The wind and the sun complicated things, and he dropped it for an error. But here was the uniquely A.J. moment: He was trying to pin the ball to his body as he went to his knees.

The ball finally escaped, but there was a chance it was behind him and blocked from umpire view. So, the catcher went through a brief charade, as though the ball was in his possession. Hohn knew better this time, and gave the safe sign. you see Gardenhire said of A.J.’s fake catch. a A beautiful beauty the way Gardenhire saw it Monday.

Patrick Reusse is at REUSSE fromC1 Pierzynski home run lessens Twins anxiety OPENING DAY Jerry Tribune Twins starter Brad Radke was masterful on Opening Day, facing the minimum 18 batters through six innings against the Tigers. By Jim Souhan Paul Press The perils of March baseball: Tigers assistant groundskeeper Gail DeGennaro uses warm water to remove snow from the Comerica Park infield. Many things go well with baseball peanuts, hot dogs, kids, afternoons, evenings but snow does not. It stops the grounders, and it makes the fielders slip. It obscures the white ball, and only pitchers like that.

It makes the fans choose hot chocolate over beer, and vendors just prepared for a freakish situation like that. Trouble is, Opening Day comes at a time of year when it snows in some places, and Detroit is one of those places. Sure, it be weird to have a sunny, 55-degree day in Detroit this time of year, but what would make you think the Tigers were going to get lucky on a baseball matter this season? So it snowed on Opening Day in Detroit. what they have groundskeepers for. As long as short of a blizzard, there are only two words to say about a little snow and a little cold on Opening Day: Play ball.

Time for baseball, weather or not 0GALLERY0 Jones and Cristian Guzman prepare for the game by dancing in the dugout. Righthander LaTroy Hawkins keeps warm in his eighth Opening Day with the Twins. Despite demeanor, Radke is man with plan Star Tribune photographs by Jerry Holt.