Minnesota lost more than the game: Heralded Japanese import, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, broke his lower left leg after Nick Swisher slid into him at second base while breaking up a double play in the seventh. The Twins said they believed the play was clean, and Swisher sought Nishioka out in the X-ray room after the game to apologize.
“He definitely eased my mind,’’ Swisher said. “He told me, ‘Hey, it’s not your fault. Don’t feel bad.’ I know I play hard, but you never want to go in there trying to hurt anybody.’’
The Twins signed Nishioka to a three-year, $9.25 million deal in December. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout yesterday to drop his average to .208. There was no immediate word on how long Nishioka would be out.
White Sox 5, Rays 1 — Edwin Jackson struck out a career-high 13 and Chicago took its home opener by sending winless Tampa Bay to its sixth straight loss.
The defending AL East champion Rays extended the worst start in team history — they haven’t even held a lead this year. Tampa Bay has scored exactly one run in five of its defeats.
Jackson (2-0) allowed four hits in eight innings. He lost his shutout bid in the eighth when pinch hitter Felipe Lopez doubled and Reid Brignac singled.
Phillies 11, Mets 0 — Roy Halladay pitched seven sharp innings for his first win of the season, Wilson Valdez had a career-high four hits, and host Philadelphia shut out New York.
Halladay (1-0) allowed six hits and struck out seven. Mets starter Jonathon Niese (0-1) gave up six runs in four innings.
Valdez, filling in for the injured Chase Utley (knee), finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs, two doubles, and two infield singles. He’s one of six regulars hitting above .300 in the first six games.
Brewers 4, Braves 2 — Nyjer Morgan almost single-handedly manufactured the go-ahead run for host Milwaukee, doubling, stealing third, and then knocking the ball loose in a home-plate collision with catcher Brian McCann in the second inning.
The Brewers’ pitching staff clamped down after Morgan’s play, holding Atlanta scoreless the rest of the way.
