The Tampa Bay Rays open their season with a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles. Trailing 3 – 2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Rays rally against O’s closer Mike Gonzalez. Sean Rodriguez starts the frame with a single, pinch hitter Kelly Shoppach doubles, and Jason Bartlett is walked intentionally to load the bases. Carl Crawford then sends 36,973 fans home happy with a two-run double to right field. Solo homers by Adam Jones, Luke Scott and Matt Wieters off James Shields account for all the Orioles’ runs.

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The Tampa Bay Rays open their season with a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles. Trailing 3 – 2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Rays rally against O’s closer Mike Gonzalez. Sean Rodriguez starts the frame with a single, pinch hitter Kelly Shoppach doubles, and Jason Bartlett is walked intentionally to load the bases. Carl Crawford then sends 36,973 fans home happy with a two-run double to right field. Solo homers by Adam Jones, Luke Scott and Matt Wieters off James Shields account for all the Orioles’ runs.

The Angels enter the Guinness Book of World Records by asking 43,510 fans to don free Hideki Matsui fleece blankets, shattering the record of 17,758 people wearing fleece blankets at an event (set during a NBA gimmick by the Cleveland Cavaliers).

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The Angels enter the Guinness Book of World Records by asking 43,510 fans to don free Hideki Matsui fleece blankets, shattering the record of 17,758 people wearing fleece blankets at an event (set during a NBA gimmick by the Cleveland Cavaliers).

The Padres’ Chris Young makes a successful comeback from shoulder surgery last year, pitching San Diego to 6 – 3 win over the Diamondbacks. Everth Cabrera drives in four runs for San Diego, as Edwin Jackson is charged with the loss in his first start for Arizona.

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The Padres’ Chris Young makes a successful comeback from shoulder surgery last year, pitching San Diego to 6 – 3 win over the Diamondbacks. Everth Cabrera drives in four runs for San Diego, as Edwin Jackson is charged with the loss in his first start for Arizona.

Matt Stairs plays for his twelfth major league organization, equaling Deacon McGuire’s record (1884 to 1912) for the most teams ever played with by a position player

ByThis Day in Baseball

Matt Stairs plays for his twelfth major league organization, equaling Deacon McGuire’s record (1884 to 1912) for the most teams ever played with by a position player. The 18-year veteran, who also joins pitchers Mike Morgan and Ron Villone for being on a dozen different clubs, flies out in a pinch-hitting role for the Padres in a 6-3 loss to Arizona at Chase Field.

The Red Sox and their ace, Josh Beckett, come to terms on a $68 million, four-year contract extension. The agreement keeps the team’s Opening Day starter in Boston along with recent free agent acquisition John Lackey, giving the club a potent 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation for the next five years.

ByTom

The Red Sox and their ace, Josh Beckett, come to terms on a $68 million, four-year contract extension. The agreement keeps the team’s Opening Day starter in Boston along with recent free agent acquisition John Lackey, giving the club a potent 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation for the next five years.

The Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, getting the opening day starting nod after missing all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, holds the Texas Rangers hitless into the 7th inning as the Jays stake an early lead on homers by Vernon Wells and Adam Lind. Nelson Cruz ties the game with a three-run homer in the 7th, but after the Jays retake the lead, new Toronto closer Jason Frasor blows the save opportunity, giving up two runs in the 9th for a 5 – 4 Texas win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits the game-winning single.

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The Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, getting the opening day starting nod after missing all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, holds the Texas Rangers hitless into the 7th inning as the Jays stake an early lead on homers by Vernon Wells and Adam Lind. Nelson Cruz ties the game with a three-run homer in the 7th, but after the Jays retake the lead, new Toronto closer Jason Frasor blows the save opportunity, giving up two runs in the 9th for a 5 – 4 Texas win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits the game-winning single.

Jason Heyward, the Minor League Player of the Year last year, starts his major league career with fireworks, connecting for a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano in the 1st inning in front of 60 friends and family members at Turner Field as Atlanta cruises to a 16 – 5 win over the Cubs.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Jason Heyward, the Minor League Player of the Year last year, starts his major league career with fireworks, connecting for a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano in the 1st inning in front of 60 friends and family members at Turner Field as Atlanta cruises to a 16 – 5 win over the Cubs.

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Roy Halladay throws seven strong innings to lead the defending National League champions to an easy 11 – 1 win over Washington

ByThis Day in Baseball

In his first start for the Phillies, Roy Halladay throws seven strong innings to lead the defending National League champions to an easy 11 – 1 win over Washington in front of President Barack Obama, who throws out the ceremonial first pitch. Placido Polanco drives in six runs in his return to Philadelphia, while Ryan Howard homers.

Albert Pujols, the 2009 National League MVP, starts off the year where he left off last season, banging two homers to lead the Cardinals to an 11 – 6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

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Albert Pujols, the 2009 National League MVP, starts off the year where he left off last season, banging two homers to lead the Cardinals to an 11 – 6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.

ByBaseball

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.