Seven games as the Opening Day festivities kick up a bit. Most games would be classified as matinees or afternoon specials. We begin in...
Detroit, with the Tigers hosting the Boston Red Sox. Jon Lester and Justin Verlander are the pitchers. Detroit got the first run in the seventh inning as Alex Avila doubled to score Jhonny Peralta. The Tigers added on with a Prince Fielder sacrifice fly that allowed Austin Jackson safe passage home. Boston got one back in the ninth inning as David Ortiz hit his own sacrifice fly and Dustin Pedroia scored. The Red Sox tied it with Ryan Sweeney tripling to drive in pinch-runner Darnell McDonald. Detroit eked out a victory with Jackson hitting a walk-off single to secure a 3-2 win as pinch-runner Danny Worth scored. Jose Valverde got the win despite blowing the save, while Mark Melancon was pinned with the loss.
Back east a bit, the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves. Tommy Hanson and Johan Santana are given the ball. New York struck first with a sixth inning David Wright single, knocking in Andres Torres. This was it for scoring, leaving the Mets up 1-0, and Ramon Ramirez got the win, Frank Francisco closed for the save, and Hanson was dealt the loss.
Later on, the Pittsburgh Pirates bring in the cross-state Philadelphia Phillies for the battle of Pennsylvania. Roy Halladay and Erik Bedard will start. Philadelphia started off with a Carlos Ruiz sacrifice fly that allowed Ty Wigginton to score in the seventh inning. This was the only run for a 1-0 final, with Halladay earning the win by allowing just 2 hits, Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect final inning for the save, and Bedard suffered the loss.
Westward to Chicago, with the Cubs welcoming the Washington Nationals. Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Dempster take the mound. Chicago opened the scoring with a fourth inning Marlon Byrd single to bring around Ian Stewart. Washington tied it when Jayson Werth drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing Ian Desmond home. The Nationals claimed the lead with a ninth inning Desmond single to score pinch-runner Brett Carroll. This was good enough to earn them a 2-1 win, with Tyler Clippard earning the win, Brad Lidge getting the save, and Carlos Marmol getting handed the loss.
Backtracking east again, with the Cleveland Indians hosting the Toronto Blue Jays. Ricky Romero and Justin Masterson will pace the game. Cleveland began with a second inning Casey Kotchman groundout that allowed Carlos Santana to cross home. The Indians kept going with a three-run homer by Jack Hannahan, bring around Shelley Duncan and Jason Kipnis. Toronto got one back with a fourth inning Jose Bautista solo home run. The Blue Jays attempted a comeback in the ninth, beginning on a Bautista sacrifice fly to score Yunel Escobar, and they got the tying run with an Edwin Encarnacion double scoring both Kelly Johnson and pinch-runner Rajai Davis. Toronto completed the comeback in the sixteenth inning on a three-run blast by J.P. Arencibia, also scoring Brett Lawrie and Omar Vizquel. Luis Perez picked up the win after four inning of relief, and the 7-4 loss was stuck on Jairo Asencio.
Across the state of Ohio, the Cincinnati Reds welcome the Miami Marlins. Mark Buehrle and Johnny Cueto will pitch. Cincinnati first dented the scoreboard with a Jay Bruce sacrifice fly to bring around Zack Cozart. The Reds padded their lead in the sixth inning as Ryan Ludwick doubled to score Scott Rolen. Cincinnati added more insurance with a solo shot from the bat of Bruce in the eighth inning, and then followed it up with a Chris Heisey double allowing Drew Stubbs to make it home. This left the final at 4-0, with Cueto picking up the win and Buehrle getting tagged with the loss.
Finally, the festivities end in a National League Battle of California with the San Diego Padres hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw and Edinson Volquez were named opening day pitchers. Los Angeles kept things simple when they began scoring in the fourth inning, as James Loney and A.J. Ellis walked with the bases loaded to force in Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera, respectively. The Dodgers added on in the fifth inning as Kemp reached on an error and Dee Gordon darted home. San Diego got to wok in the sixth with a Jesus Guzman double knocking in Will Venable. Los Angeles answered in the top of the eighth on a two-run blast by Kemp, also scoring Mark Ellis. The Padres replied in their half of the inning with Cameron Maybin's two-run homer, which brought around pinch-hitter Jeremy Hermida. They never caught up despite the effort, losing 5-3, with Josh Lindblom getting the win after a sickness-shortened outing for Kershaw, Javy Guerra picked up the save, and Volquez was tagged for the loss.
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