Well folks, we’ve finally made it. We’ve survived a long, harsh winter, and reached Opening Day. On Sunday night, ESPN kicked off the season in San Diego, and that’s where we’re going to start.
Game of the Night: Padres 3, Dodgers 1. Despite only having a 1-0 lead, the Dodgers looked firmly in control of this game. After stranding five men in the first two innings, the Padres put just one runner on base in innings three through seven, and he was immediately erased on a double play. Hyun-Jin Ryu had himself one hell of a night on the mound, as did Andrew Cashner for the Padres. But when Ryu gave way to Brian Wilson in the eighth, all hell broke loose. Seth Smith led the inning off with a home run to tie the game and end Ryu’s chance at earning his second win of the season, and things didn’t get any better from there for Wilson and the Dodgers. Wilson walked Yasmani Grandal, and made an error on an Everth Cabrera sac bunt attempt to put two men on with none out. Grandal and Cabrera each moved up a base (Grandal on a steal, Cabrera on indifference), and both were singled home by Chris Denorfia to put San Diego in front 3-1. After Chase Headley reached on an error by Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Perez and Paco Rodriguez got out of the jam with no further damage, but it was to no avail. Huston Street set the Dodgers down in order in the ninth, and the Padres are the second team of 2014 to pick up a win.
Pitching Lines of the Night: Both starters pitched very well. Ryu allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings, walking three and striking out seven. Meanwhile, Cashner allowed just the one run on four hits in six innings, walking a pair and punching out five. I’ll give an additional hat tip to San Diego’s bullpen, which threw three no-hit innings, walking one and striking out four.
Hitting Lines of the Night: There wasn’t a lot going on with the sticks on Sunday night, as you can tell by the lines of both starters. Smith’s pinch hit, solo homer was the lone extra base hit of the night for either club. A.J. Ellis went 2/3 with a walk for the Dodgers, and Denorfia went 2/4 with two RBI for the Padres. No one else had a multi-hit game. Los Angeles’ mid-order trio of Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, and Gonzalez combined to go 0/11 with a walk and two strikeouts. San Diego’s mid-order trio of Headley, Jedd Gyorko, and Yonder Alonso went 0/11 with a walk and six strikeouts. Bang-up job all-around, guys!
Other Games: Nothing, unless you’re into an Astros exhibition game.
What You Missed; Over the weekend, Clayton Kershaw went on the DL, O.co Coliseum flooded yet again, Vin Scully stayed cool during an earthquake, and Tim Lincecum took a line drive off his knee and somehow avoided any serious injury.
Today’s Games: Alright, here we go with the first schedule of the season…if you’re new here, I pretty much just tell you the impressive pitchers making starts today, and let the rest of the schedule sort itself out. Jeff Samardzija takes on Francisco Liriano in Pittsburgh. Stephen Strasburg starts for the Nationals in Flushing. James Shields and Justin Verlander will tango in Detroit. Cliff Lee will start for the Phillies in Texas. Julio Teheran starts for the Braves in Milwaukee against Yovani Gallardo. Jon Lester and Chris Tillman will battle in Baltimore. Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals take on Johnny Cueto and the Reds in Cincinnati. Ricky Nolasco makes his Twins debut against Chris Sale of the White Sox. R.A. Dickey starts for the Blue Jays in St. Pete against David Price and the Rays. Jorge de la Rosa toes the rubber for the Rockies against 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez in Miami. Madison Bumgarner gets the nod for the Giants in Arizona. Felix Hernandez and Jered Weaver will duel in Anaheim. Justin Masterson starts for the Indians in Oakland against Sonny Gray.
National TV: Cubs-Pirates (1 PM, ESPN), Red Sox-Orioles (3 PM, ESPN2), Cardinals-Reds (4 PM, ESPN), Rockies-Marlins (7 PM, ESPN2), Mariners-Angels (10 PM, ESPN2)
Enjoy your Opening Day, everyone.
