Jose Tabata doubles off Franklin Morales to end a 14-inning, 5 hour, 11 minute, marathon between the Rockies and Pirates. With the Pirates’ bench and bullpen both depleted, the score tied at 3-all with two outs and Josh Rodriguez on first, Rockies’ manager Jim Tracy declines to issue an intentional walk to Tabata, who hit a solo homer earlier in the game, in order to face P Garrett Olson, and pays the price. The Pirates bullpen puts together a stellar performance: 6 pitchers combine to keep Colorado off the scoreboard for 11 1/3 innings after relieving starter Ross Ohlendorf with a 3 – 0 deficit in the 3rd inning.

ByBaseball

Jose Tabata doubles off Franklin Morales to end a 14-inning, 5 hour, 11 minute, marathon between the Rockies and Pirates. With the Pirates’ bench and bullpen both depleted, the score tied at 3-all with two outs and Josh Rodriguez on first, Rockies’ manager Jim Tracy declines to issue an intentional walk to Tabata, who hit a solo homer earlier in the game, in order to face P Garrett Olson, and pays the price. The Pirates bullpen puts together a stellar performance: 6 pitchers combine to keep Colorado off the scoreboard for 11 1/3 innings after relieving starter Ross Ohlendorf with a 3 – 0 deficit in the 3rd inning.

The Red Sox finally record their first win of the season after starting 0-6, defeating their arch-rivals the New York Yankees, 9 – 6, in their home opener. Dustin Pedroia hits a homer in his first at-bat with his team down 2 – 0 and finishes the day with 3 hits and as many RBI to lead the Boston attack. John Lackey is the winner in spite of giving up 6 runs over 5 innings.

ByBaseball

The Red Sox finally record their first win of the season after starting 0-6, defeating their arch-rivals the New York Yankees, 9 – 6, in their home opener. Dustin Pedroia hits a homer in his first at-bat with his team down 2 – 0 and finishes the day with 3 hits and as many RBI to lead the Boston attack. John Lackey is the winner in spite of giving up 6 runs over 5 innings.

Slugger Manny Ramirez, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season, announces his retirement after a failure to conform with Major League Baseball’s drug policy
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Slugger Manny Ramirez, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season, announces his retirement after a failure to conform with Major League Baseball’s drug policy

ByThis Day in Baseball

Slugger Manny Ramirez, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season, announces his retirement after a failure to conform with Major League Baseball’s drug policy. After having been suspended for 50 games in 2009 because of PED use, he would have faced an unprecedented 100-game suspension if, as rumored, he has failed another drug test. The retirement under a cloud casts a doubt over his eventual election to the Hall of Fame­. He will change his mind in a few months and return to organized baseball in 2012, but fail to make it back to the majors.