Let’s just forget that the Red Sox and A’s game in Japan, and the Braves and the Nats game in Natiion’s Capital never happened. Monday is what we will consider the true opening day as we had the full slate of games throughout major league baseball.
The day started off with the Yankees season opener in the Bronx rained out. The Yankees begin play in their new cathedral next season. It must of been a real downer for the fans who held the final opening day tickets in Yankee Stadium. Instead, we were treated to the Tigers take on the Royals on ESPN. The game started out with the Tigers taking the early lead, but the Royals came back and the game went into extra innings with the Tigers bullpen giving way to the Royals first win.
If the name Jamie Shields is not a household name yet, may be some day it will be. As Shields, in his first opening day start, pitched the Rays to an opening day win in Baltimore.
The opening day for the Reds and the Brewers were delayed by rain. The Reds honored long time announcer Joe Nuxhall by wearing #41 on the back of all their jerseys.
It did not take that long for Eric Gagne to have his role as closer with the Brewers to be on the line. David Riske had to nail down the save in extra innings over the Cubs, as Gagne gave up 3 runs in ninth. The Cubs offense was anemic, except for Japan import Fukodome who had three RBIs on the day. Cubs got a nice outing by Zambrano who ended up having to leave with an arm cramp.
Brandon Webb of the D-Backs notched an opening day win over the Reds. Jeff Salazar launched the pinch hit home run to add some extra insurance, and Lyons surprisingly had an easy ninth collecting the save on 11 picthes.
Filed under: American League, MLB, National League, Opening Day, Rookies
