Yesterday's Opening Day scheduled featured great performances from starting pitchers in nearly every game. Only two games (Braves-Phillies and Brewers-Rockies) saw both teams score at least four runs, and only six of the 22 teams that played yesterday scored at least five runs. Three teams also got shut out, meaning that they're still looking for their first runs of the season. Oh bother.
Game of the Day: Brewers 5, Rockies 4 (ten innings). Milwaukee trailed 3-1 going into the eighth, as Colorado used homers from Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez to jump out in front. But once starter Jhoulys Chacin left the game (who the Brewers struggled against all day), Milwaukee's offense took off. Against the newly-acquired Wilton Lopez, Jean Segura reached on an infield single before Lopez retired the next two hitters. Then, Rickie Weeks followed with a single to put men on the corners for Ryan Braun. Braun beat out an infield single to make it a 3-2 game before Aramis Ramirez doubled down the left field line to bring in Weeks and Braun and give the Brewers a 4-3 lead. In the ninth, Milwaukee closer John Axford struck out Chris Nelson and Eric Young Jr before allowing a solo homer by Dexter Fowler on the first pitch, tying the game at four. In the tenth, Adam Ottavino couldn't find the strike zone, loading the bases wih a hit by pitch, an intentional walk, and an unintentional walk, allowing Jonathan Lucroy to hit a walk-off sac fly and give Milwaukee the win despite not tallying a hit during their tenthinning rally.
Pitching Lines of the Day: Clayton Kershaw threw a complete game shutout for the Dodgers in their 4-0 win over the Giants, allowing four hits and striking out seven without a walk. He also hit the first homer of his career to start the scoring. You can't blame Giants starter Matt Cain for the loss after six shutout innings, four hits, eight strikeouts, and one walk. Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija was marvelous in Chicago's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh, allowing two hits over eight shutout innings, walking one and striking out nine. Felix Hernandez threw 7 2/3 shutout innings against the A's in the Mariners' 2-0 win, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out eight. And to think, he did that after giving the opposing catcher John Jaso a brand new Rolex. Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals threw seven shutout innings in Washington's 2-0 win over Miami, allowing three hits and striking out three without a walk. Johnny Cueto was excellent for the Reds in their 3-1, 13 inning loss to the Angels, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking two. Finally, Wihte Sox starter Chris Sale built on his excellent 2012 campaign by leading Chicago to a 1-0 win over Kansas City, throwing 7 2/3 shutout innings while allowing seven hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts.
Hitting Lines of the Day: Chase Utley of the Phillies had a great day in Philadelphia's 7-5 loss to Atlanta, going 3/5 with a triple and a homer, scoring two runs and driving in three. Bryce Harper backed Strasburg in the Nationals win, going 2/4 with a pair of solo homers. Collin Cowgill led the Mets to an 11-2 romp of the Padres, going 2/5 with two runs, four RBI, a double, and a homer. Freddie Freeman did a good job powering the Braves offense in their win over the Phillies, going 3/4 with a homer and three RBI. Gerardo Parra wasn't even slotted into Arizona's Opening Day outfield until Cody Ross and Adam Eaton got hurt, but he responded by going 4/5 with three doubles and a run scored in the Diamondbacks' 6-2 win over the Cardinals. Finally, Jacoby Ellsbury went 3/6 with a run, two RBI, and a triple in Boston's 8-2 romp over New York.
Other Games: Detroit beat Minnesota 4-2, despite Justin Verlander exiting after only five innings and an 0/5 day from Miguel Cabrera.
Today's Games: Only seven games on the slate today, a scheduling quirk I hate about Opening Week. The Orioles and Rays kick off their season in Tampa Bay, as Jason Hammel takes on AL Cy Young winner David Price. The Indians and Blue Jays will also begin their year, with Justin Masterson dueling RA Dickey in Toronto. Yu Darvish will make his season debut for the Rangers in Houston. Hisashi Iwakuma and Jarrod Parker will duel in Oakland. Madison Bumgarner and the Giants look to score their first run of the season against Hyun-Jin Ryu and the Dodgers.
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
