The Yankees are successful on opening day, beating Detroit, 6 – 3, at home. Curtis Granderson, whose health was a concern before the start of the game because of a strained right oblique muscle, makes a diving catch of a line drive hit by Will Rhymes in the 1st, then breaks a 3 – 3 tie with a solo homer off Phil Coke in the 7th. Mark Teixeira had earlier hit a three-run blast to tie the score in the 3rd. New Yankee starting C Russell Martin scores twice in his debut in pinstripes as Joba Chamberlain picks up the win and Mariano Rivera the save.

The day is marred by a tragic incident at Dodger Stadium after the opener between the Giants and Dodgers. Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, is assaulted by Dodger fans for nothing more than wearing a Giants cap and suffers injuries that leave him in a coma. His family will later sue Dodgers owner Frank McCourt for cutting back on security and lighting in the parking lot where the assault occured. After an intensive investigation, Los Angeles Police will arrest a suspect on May 22nd.

It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball and the Reds win in dramatic fashion in Cincinnati to start off the National League’s schedule. Trailing 6 – 3 in the bottom of the 9th, they rally for four runs against Brewers closer John Axford when Ramon Hernandez slugs a three-run walk-off homer with two outs for a 7 – 6 win. Milwaukee starts the game with a bang as Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez open the contest with back-to-back homers off Edinson Volquez; Ryan Braun, Drew Stubbs and Joey Votto also go yard in the wild contest.