Justin Verlander went only five innings for the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day but pitched well enough to notch his first win of the season.
Verlander struck out seven over five scoreless innings against Minnesota on Monday. The 30-year-old former Cy Young winner had a rough spring but bounced back for a solid start to the 2013 season.
In the outing Verlander threw 91 pitches of which 54 were strikes.
The outing against Minnesota was his shortest since Aug. 17, 2010 against the Yankees when he lasted only five innings.
Detroit won the game 4-2.
