David Ortiz agrees to a four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that will guarantee the slugger about $52 million. In 2005, Ortiz batted .300 with 148 RBI in 159 games, as his 47 home runs were second in Red Sox history to Jimmie Foxx’s 50 in 1938.

Howdy Groskloss, a former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder, celebrates his 100th birthday this week, making him the oldest living major league baseball player.

Jim Thome and Joe Crede hit two-run home runs and Paul Konerko adds a solo shot, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 5 – 3 victory in the Detroit Tigers’ home opener. Freddy Garcia strikes out five and limits the Tigers to five hits in six innings en route to his 100th career victory.

Cory Sullivan becomes the 11th player in big league history to hit two triples in the same inning, and the first since Gil Coan of the Senators accomplished the feat in 1951. The Colorado leadoff hitter’s two seventh-inning three-baggers contribute to the Rockies’ 10-4 win over the Padres.

2006 – Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagné will have surgery to remove a nerve from his pitching elbow – his second arm operation in less than a year – leaving his season in doubt. Gagné saved 152 games for the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004 and was a near-unanimous winner of the 2003 National League Cy Young Award. He had a 1-0 record with a 2.70 ERA and eight saves while appearing in 14 games in 2005.

Devil Rays P Mark Hendrickson hurls a complete game three-hit shutout, defeating the Orioles, 2 – 0. It is the first complete game shutout for Tampa Bay since 2003. The streak of 349 consecutive games without a complete game shutout is second in American League history behind the 1994-1996 Milwaukee Brewers (386).

Pedro Feliz honors three former major leaguers (including his own manager, Felipe Alou) when he drives in Barry Bonds, Moises Alou and Lance Niekro with a bases-clearing double off Jorge Sosa during the Giants’ six-run 3rd against the Braves. Feliz is the first major-leaguer in the last 49 years to drive in three sons of ex-major-leaguers on the same play. Further research reveals that it is only the 11th time since 1957 that three sons of big leaguers were on base at the same time. Doing some record-setting of their own in the 6 – 4 loss, Brave battery-mates Brian McCann (C) and Sosa (P) become only the 11th such duo to hit back-to-back homers in the majors when they go yard consecutively. It is the first major league hit and homer for Sosa, who will have two more hits, both homers, this year.