Garver launches first big league big fly

Garver's go-ahead homer MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins catcher Mitch Garver picked an opportune time for his first career homer, as he deposited an 0-2 slider from Mariners right-hander Dan Altavilla into the left-field seats to give the Twins a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning of the Target Field opener on Thursday afternoon.

Garver, who had never homered in his previous 52 at-bats in the Majors, crushed the mistake from Altavilla, as it left his bat at 105.4 mph at a launch angle of 32 degrees, going a projected 409 feet, per Statcast™. Balls hit at similar exit velocities and launch angles go for hits 89 percent of the time.

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It was also the 11th homer of the year for the Twins…