Veteran Boone starts over in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Before he signed with Seattle for the 2001 season, Bret Boone always liked the way the Mariners played and predicted great things for them.

Before arriving in Minnesota via trade this week, he was equally impressed and intrigued by the Twins.

“I was right the first time, so hopefully I’m right this time,” Boone said Thursday before joining his new team for the first time for a game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Boone batted third and went 0 for 4 during a 3-2 Twins loss.

Boone, 36, was designated for assignment by Seattle on July 3. In his first year in Seattle, the Mariners won 116 games and he finished third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting. The experience began to sour last season, when Boone’s offense fell off and the team went 63-99.

He’s hoping Minnesota will be a fresh start for him, and the Twins welcomed their new second baseman.

“You could see our ballclub going around and struggling to get runs in,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “When you’re losing one-run games … maybe it’s a matter of getting a veteran in the middle.”