Henry Blanco’s two homers and Adrian Gonzalez’ bases clearing double provided all the support Jake Peavy would need. Peavy struck out ten over 8 1/3, his complete game bid ended on Fred Lewis’ double in the ninth, with Heath Bell recording the last two outs for the save.
Grady Sizemore, en route to his best season, had an interesting day, with a double, triple, and hit by pitch twice. Fausto Carmona probably gave us all reason to believe he’d continue his 2007 form as he allowed one run over six innings with one walk, two strikeouts, and ten outs on groundballs. Spoiler: he would not continue his 2007 form.
Chris Young did not have his control, walking five Dodgers (including opposite number Randy Wolf twice) and coughing up five runs in just 2 1/3. Andre Ethier had a big day at the plate (three hits, a homer, four RBI), Wolf hit the minimum qualifications for a quality start, and Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito combined to allow just one walk in three innings of relief.
But the most interesting aspects of the scoresheet come from Rafael Furcal’s trips to the plate. He started the game by reaching on catcher’s interference, and drew a walk in the eighth which was aided by an automatic third ball (indicated by the “a” preceding my normal “D” on the left side of the scorebox) called on Doug Brocail.
The Indians got to Felix Hernandez for five runs in 4 2/3, including homers by Ben Broussard and Ronnie Belliard. Unfortunately, Jason Johnson was pitching for Cleveland, and he allowed three runs in the fifth (including an Ichiro homer) and walked the bases loaded in the sixth before being bailed out by Rafael Betancourt. But in the seventh Betancourt walked namesake Yuniesky (not an easy thing to do) and surrendered the tying homer to Jose Lopez before Scott Sauerbeck and Guillermo Mota allowed two more runs across. Kenji Johjima’s two-run double in the ninth gave the Mariners nine, and their bullpen shut the Tribe out, including a six-out save by JJ Putz.
Carl Everett had a game after my heart, grounding out his first time up, followed by a double and then walks in his final three plate appearances.
Mark Buehrle and Jake Westbrook each pitched eight fine innings on opening day, but the Sox scored the game’s only run in the seventh on a double by Paul Konerko and infield hit by Aaron Rowand. Westbrook allowed five hits and one walk with three strikeouts, while Buehrle was perfect through four, allowing just two hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Shingo Takatsu pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, and the game was over in snappy one hour, fifty-one minutes.
This was a wild early season game between division rivals, with the fifth through seventh innings producing thirteen of the eighteen runs scored in the games, Atlanta’s four-run sixth being decisive. The highlight of that inning is probably 45 year old Julio Franco’s bases loaded pinch-hit walk against 42 year old John Franco. A few offensive performances that stood out were Ty Wigginton (three hits, four RBI, one HR), Marcus Giles (four singles), and Johnny Estrada (three hits, four RBI).
The Royals scored three runs, with the go ahead run coming on a little league home run by Michael Tucker in the third, scoring on an Omar Vizquel throwing error after he’d tripled to center. Despite twelve hits (including three each from Brent Mayne and Carlos Febles at the bottom of the lineup), Kansas City managed just three runs, with two runners cut down at the plate.
The Indians battered Kyle Lohse for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, punctuated by a two-run homer by Jim Thome and a three-run homer by Omar Vizquel. Bartolo Colon wasn’t particularly sharp, allowing 4 runs over 5 2/3 and striking out just two Twins. When the starters exited, the scoring was done; the pens combined for 8 1/3 scoreless innings.
One of those relievers, Jack Cressand, was tossed along with his manager Ron Gardenhire for intentionally hitting Ricky Gutierrez leading off the fifth. These division rivals did not have a friendly relationship in 2002 – see #215 for the entertaining culmination.
Cleveland jumped on Jeff Weaver with a six-run first, despite a sac bunt from Robbie Alomar; Russell Branyan’s three-run blast to left was the big blow. Rookie CC Sabathia retired the first ten Detroit batters before allowing a fourth inning rally cashed in by Deivi Cruz’ bases clearing double. Alomar drove in two in the sixth, but in the bottom of the frame, Sabathia was pulled after allowing a single to Bobby Higginson at 88 pitches, and Justin Speier coughed up his own bases clearing double to pinch-hitter Robert Fick. Ricardo Rincon came in to fan Roger Cedeno, and Steve Karsay tossed two perfect innings of relief.
Wil Cordero’s triple was followed by Brayan’s third hit and fourth RBI of the night to pad the Tribe lead to 9-7, but Bob Wickman ran into trouble into the ninth, allowing a leadoff homer to pinch-hitter Jose Macias and a single before Cedno helped out popping up a sacrifice attempt. After Wickman plunked Damion Easley, Paul Shuey was summoned, fanning Higginson and Tony Clark to earn the bailout save.
Opening Day for the Indians and Orioles saw Bartolo Colon and Mike Mussina hook up at Camden Yards. Baltimore struck first, taking advantage of four walks issued by Colon in the first two innings, but he steadied for three shutout innings, departing after five having fanned six and walked five. Mussina set down the first seven Indians before Travis Fryman’s homer (the third straight game posted here featuring a Fryman longball), then set down ten more before Kenny Lofton homered to give Cleveland the lead in the sixth. Mussina set down the next six (at this point he’d faced 25 batters over 7 2/3, allowing just the two homers with four Ks), but three straight singles chased Moose, and the Indians plated two in eighth. The Orioles were shut out by the Indians bullpen for four innings with Steve Karsay earning the save.
