In a throwback game at Coors Field, the Rockies blast the Giants, 17 – 8, collecting 22 hits in the process – half of them for extra bases. Matt Reynolds gets the win in relief of Jeremy Guthrie, who is unable to hold a 6 – 0 lead. Giants starter Tim Lincecum is tagged for 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings, but avoids a loss when his teammates rally for 7 runs in the 4th. The Rockies put up a 7-spot of their own in the 5th to pull away for good.

ByTom

In a throwback game at Coors Field, the Rockies blast the Giants, 17 – 8, collecting 22 hits in the process – half of them for extra bases. Matt Reynolds gets the win in relief of Jeremy Guthrie, who is unable to hold a 6 – 0 lead. Giants starter Tim Lincecum is tagged for 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings, but avoids a loss when his teammates rally for 7 runs in the 4th. The Rockies put up a 7-spot of their own in the 5th to pull away for good.

Two anniversaries clash in New York, as the Mets celebrate a half century of existence, and Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg the second anniversary of his professional debut. Strasburg has the upper hand, pitching 6 scoreless innings to earn his first win of the year, 4 – 0. His opponent Johan Santana, also coming back from arm surgery, gives up a single run in 5 innings when Mark DeRosa scores on a wild pitch in the 2nd, but it’s enough to saddle him with the loss.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Two anniversaries clash in New York, as the Mets celebrate a half century of existence, and Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg the second anniversary of his professional debut. Strasburg has the upper hand, pitching 6 scoreless innings to earn his first win of the year, 4 – 0. His opponent Johan Santana, also coming back from arm surgery, gives up a single run in 5 innings when Mark DeRosa scores on a wild pitch in the 2nd, but it’s enough to saddle him with the loss.

Vin Scully misses the Dodgers’ home opener for the first time in 35 years when doctors order the 84 year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster to rest as he recovers from a bad cold. The last time the team’s play-by-play announcer was absent from the season’s first home game he was calling the first round of the Masters in 1977.

ByTom

Vin Scully misses the Dodgers’ home opener for the first time in 35 years when doctors order the 84 year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster to rest as he recovers from a bad cold. The last time the team’s play-by-play announcer was absent from the season’s first home game he was calling the first round of the Masters in 1977.

The Braves win their first game this season, 6 – 4, over the Houston Astros, as Chipper Jones homers in his first game of the year. The win snaps a nine-game losing streak dating back to the Braves’ collapse at the end of the 2011 season, which cost them a playoff spot. Rookie SS Tyler Pastornicky hits his first major league homer for Atlanta as Houston wears the uniforms of the Houston Colt .45s in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first game in team history.

ByTom

The Braves win their first game this season, 6 – 4, over the Houston Astros, as Chipper Jones homers in his first game of the year. The win snaps a nine-game losing streak dating back to the Braves’ collapse at the end of the 2011 season, which cost them a playoff spot. Rookie SS Tyler Pastornicky hits his first major league homer for Atlanta as Houston wears the uniforms of the Houston Colt .45s in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first game in team history.

The Miami Marlins announce that they are suspending manager Ozzie Guillen for five games for making remarks supportive of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a recent Time magazine interview. The Marlins decide to act even though Guillen has apologized in order to stem the groundswell of protest from Miami’s large Cuban community.

ByTom

The Miami Marlins announce that they are suspending manager Ozzie Guillen for five games for making remarks supportive of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a recent Time magazine interview. The Marlins decide to act even though Guillen has apologized in order to stem the groundswell of protest from Miami’s large Cuban community.

Joining Roy Oswalt, Barry Zito becomes only the second opposing pitcher to whitewash the Rockies at Coors Field, posting a 7-0 victory. The shutout is the Giants left-hander’s first in 274 starts, the longest span in major league history without one.

ByTom

Joining Roy Oswalt, Barry Zito becomes only the second opposing pitcher to whitewash the Rockies at Coors Field, posting a 7-0 victory. The shutout is the Giants left-hander’s first in 274 starts, the longest span in major league history without one.

Prize Japanese signee Yu Darvish, making his major league debut for the Texas Rangers, gives up 4 runs to the Mariners in the 1st inning before settling down. The Rangers’ offense bails him out with four homers, though, and Darvish pitches into the 6th inning to earn his first win, 11 – 5.

ByBaseball

Prize Japanese signee Yu Darvish, making his major league debut for the Texas Rangers, gives up 4 runs to the Mariners in the 1st inning before settling down. The Rangers’ offense bails him out with four homers, though, and Darvish pitches into the 6th inning to earn his first win, 11 – 5.

For only the second time in the history of the American League, the Yankees and Red Sox are both 0-3. Tampa Bay completes a sweep of the Bronx Bombers at home as Jeremy Hellickson throws a three-hit shutout on his 25th birthday.

ByBaseball

For only the second time in the history of the American League, the Yankees and Red Sox are both 0-3. Tampa Bay completes a sweep of the Bronx Bombers at home as Jeremy Hellickson throws a three-hit shutout on his 25th birthday.

The Red Sox and Tigers stage an epic battle on Easter Sunday. Detroit takes an early 5 – 0 lead off Clay Buchholz, but Boston roars back to chase Max Scherzer in the 3rd inning after he has coughed up 7 runs. Sox closer Alfredo Aceves takes the mound in the bottom of the 9th with a 10 – 7 lead, but gives up a pair of singles and a three-run homer to Miguel Cabrera without retiring anyone. Boston scores two runs off Joaquin Benoit in the top of the 11th, but this time it’s Mark Melancon who can’t close the game. After giving up a sacrifice fly to Delmon Young, he has two strikes on Alex Avila with two outs when the Tigers’ catcher hits a ball off the top of the railing of the right field fence for a game-winning two-run homer after 4 hours and 45 minutes of baseball.

ByBaseball

The Red Sox and Tigers stage an epic battle on Easter Sunday. Detroit takes an early 5 – 0 lead off Clay Buchholz, but Boston roars back to chase Max Scherzer in the 3rd inning after he has coughed up 7 runs. Sox closer Alfredo Aceves takes the mound in the bottom of the 9th with a 10 – 7 lead, but gives up a pair of singles and a three-run homer to Miguel Cabrera without retiring anyone. Boston scores two runs off Joaquin Benoit in the top of the 11th, but this time it’s Mark Melancon who can’t close the game. After giving up a sacrifice fly to Delmon Young, he has two strikes on Alex Avila with two outs when the Tigers’ catcher hits a ball off the top of the railing of the right field fence for a game-winning two-run homer after 4 hours and 45 minutes of baseball.

Octavio Dotel, playing for his 13th team, breaks a major league record he previously shared with Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs, and Ron Villone. The 39 year-old Tiger reliever, who throws 1.1 scoreless innings against Boston, has also appeared with the Mets, Astros, A’s, Yankees, Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, and Cardinals.

ByTom

Octavio Dotel, playing for his 13th team, breaks a major league record he previously shared with Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs, and Ron Villone. The 39 year-old Tiger reliever, who throws 1.1 scoreless innings against Boston, has also appeared with the Mets, Astros, A’s, Yankees, Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, and Cardinals.