The Royals bullpen blew three saves in the season-opening three-game series against the Tigers.
Willis, plagued with chronic wildness during his shortened 2009 season, walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. But the former two-time National League All-Star issued only one more base on balls and had four strikeouts, giving up two runs on seven hits.
Eddie Bonine (1-0) pitched an inning of relief, giving up three hits.
Reliever Luis Mendoza (0-1) gave up Cabrera’s three-run shot.
In Oakland, California, Brett Anderson pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning of a strong season debut, Daric Barton drove in a career-high four runs and the Athletics beat Seattle to take three of the first four in the AL West rivalry.
Anderson (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
Seattle starter Doug Fister(0-1), on the opening day roster for the first time after making 11 appearances last season, gave up two runs and six hits in four innings, struck out two and walked three.
In Arlington, Texas, Vernon Wells hit his fourth homer in three games and Toronto rallied for three runs in the ninth against closer Frank Francisco.
Rangers starter C.J. Wilson struck out nine and allowed five hits over seven innings in his return to the rotation, but Francisco (0-1) failed in his first save opportunity of the season.
Francisco gave up a leadoff homer to Wells, Lyle Overbay followed with a triple and Overbay made it 2-1 when he scored on Edwin Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly. Rookie Mike McCoyadded an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Casey Janssen(1-0) struck out the side in the eighth, and Jason Frasorgot three outs for his second save in three chances as the Blue Jays took two of three from the Rangers.
In St. Petersburg, Fla., Brian Matusz allowed two runs over five innings and Garrett Atkins had two RBIs.
Matusz (1-0) overcame control problems to win his fifth straight decision, dating back to last season. The left-hander walked a career-high five, scattered two hits and struck out seven.
Matt Wieters had a RBI single and Atkins drove in a pair of runs with a single during a four-run sixth that gave the Orioles a 5-2 advantage. Baltimore had loaded the bases with no outs on a single, hit by pitch and walk against Mike Ekstrom(0-1).
In Chicago, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tiebreaking, two-out single in the 11th inning and Grady Sizemore drove in three runs.
The Indians won two of three in the opening series and moved over .500 for the first time since they were 81-80 on the next-to-last day of 2008.
Luis Valbuena opened the 11th with a bunt single off J.J. Putz(0-1). He went to second on Lou Marson’ssacrifice and, after Putz struck out Michael Brantley, Cabrera dumped a single into right field to put Cleveland ahead. Sizemore followed with his second RBI double of the night.
Jensen Lewis(1-0) worked 1 2-3 scoreless innings. Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
In Anaheim, Calif., Brendan Harris hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Jim Thome drove in three more with his 565th career home run.
The Twins took three of four in their season-opening series against the Angels, whose 1-3 start is their worst since starting 1992 0-4.
Delmon Young capped a four-run ninth against Fernando Rodney with a three-run homer—the ninth already this season for the Twins, who have homered in each of their first four games for the first time since 1997.
Kevin Slowey(1-0) allowed a run and seven hits over 5 1-3 innings and struck out three. The right-hander got off to a 10-3 start last year, but went on the disabled list July 4 with an injured wrist that required season-ending surgery in August.
Joel Pineiro (0-1) gave up three runs and five hits in six-plus innings.
