OPENING ACTS

Brad Radke made seven consecutive Opening Day starts for the Twins from 1999 through 2005. Since then five different Twins have started on Opening Day, and the past four openers have ended in Twins losses. A look at Opening Day starters in the post-Radke era:

YearStarterOpening Day result 2006Johan SantanaSantana was rocky (52/3 innings, 10 hits, four runs) in a 6-2 loss to Toronto.

2007SantanaTwins ace -- yes, they once had one -- went six innings in a 7-4 victory over Baltimore.

2008Livan HernandezLast to win on Opening Day; went seven strong innings in a 3-2 victory over the Angels.

2009Francisco LirianoThe lefty worked seven decent innings (four hits, four runs) but lost 6-1 to Seattle.

2010Scott BakerBaker gave up two in the first, another in the second as the Twins lost to the Angels 6-3.

2011Carl PavanoPavano gave up four runs in the first, and the Twins lost at Toronto 13-3.

2012PavanoLost 4-2 to Orioles; Pavano went seven innings, allowing five hits and all four runs.