AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Tiger Offense Gears Up Against A’s, 20-4

If Detroit can score 20 runs a game, who knows? Maybe the Tigers won’t have to worry about their pitching.

The Tigers, who led the major leagues in scoring last year, pulled the power switch Tuesday at Detroit and shelled the Oakland Athletics, 20-4.

Rob Deer, Mickey Tettleton and Travis Fryman each hit three-run home runs as the Tigers set a team record for runs in a home opener.

Amazingly, Cecil Fielder did not drive in a run, despite four hits. He has led the majors in runs batted in the last three seasons.

“Detroit isn’t going to have much trouble scoring 15 runs in this park,” said A’s pitcher Storm Davis (0-2), who gave up eight runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. “They remind me a lot of the ’82 Brewers. There isn’t an easy out in the lineup.”

The previous club record for runs in a home opener was set in a 15-7 victory over Cleveland in 1922. It also tied the most runs ever given up by Oakland, set on two other occasions.

Mike Moore (1-1), the former Oakland pitcher obtained by the Tigers as a free agent, gave up four runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings for the victory. It was a big turnaround from Moore’s first two starts, during which his earned run average soared to 12.00.

The Tigers scored in each of the first four innings. They scored four in the first, three in the second, one in the third and eight in the fourth. Detroit, which had 18 hits, added four unearned runs in the eighth.

Fryman matched a career-high with five RBIs and Fielder equaled a career-high with his four hits, all singles, before being lifted for a pinch runner in the fourth.

Boston 6, Cleveland 2--Scott Fletcher hit a two-run home run and Mike Greenwell had a two-run triple as the Red Sox won at Boston.

Fletcher homered over the left-field wall in the fourth inning off starter Jeff Mutis (0-1). Greenwell hit his triple during a three-run third inning and Mo Vaughn added an RBI single. Vaughn also singled in a run in the seventh.

Winner Frank Viola (2-0) gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 0--Alex Fernandez pitched a three-hitter, leading the White Sox at Chicago.

Fernandez (2-0) defeated Pat Mahomes (0-2) for a second time this season. He also was the winner in a 9-4 decision over Mahomes last Thursday in the Metrodome.

Fernandez gave up three singles, struck out seven and walked three. It was his third career shutout, his previous one coming last Sept. 4 against Kansas City.

Toronto 6, Seattle 5--Darnell Coles tripled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lift the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Reliever Danny Cox (1-0) was the winner despite giving up Omar Vizquel’s first career grand slam and first home run since Aug. 19, 1991.