New Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, describing himself as a former “Wrigley bleacher bum” in his days in university, attends the team’s first home opener since his purchase of the club. He is witness to a 9 – 5 win over the Brewers; Xavier Nady, Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez all homer for the Cubs.

Three much-heralded pitching prospects make their debut in organized baseball today. Mike Leake, the least known of the three, makes the biggest jump, giving up a single run in 6 2/3 innings as the Reds’ starter against the Cubs, in a game the Reds eventually win, 3 – 1. He is the 21st player to reach the majors without playing in a single minor league game since the amateur draft was instituted in 1965; his last pitching stop was with Arizona State University. Fellow Reds prospect Aroldis Chapman, who defected from Cuba last year, throws several pitches over 100 miles per hour in his debut with the Louisville Bats of the International League. He strikes out 9 batters in 4 2/3 innings, only giving up an unearned run to Toledo. Finally, Stephen Strasburg, the top pick of last year’s draft, picks up the win as the Harrisburg Senators defeat Altoona, 6 – 4, in an Eastern League contest. Both Chapman and Strasburg will pitch in the major leagues before the season is over.

It’s a homer fest at Miller Park ! The Brewers take an early 7 – 2 lead over the Cardinals as Rickie Weeks hits a home run leading off the game, and Corey Hart and Ryan Braun also go deep against Chris Carpenter. The Cards mount a comeback as Albert Pujols hits a two-run shot to chase Randy Wolf, then in the 9th, Phat Albert does it again as Trevor Hoffman tries to close the ballgame. Hoffman gives up another long ball to Matt Holliday to tie the score at 7, but Casey McGehee ends the game in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off blast off Kyle McClellan, for a wild 8 – 7 Milwaukee win.

The Yankees’ CC Sabathia flirts with a no-hit bid, before giving up a two-out single to the Rays’ Kelly Shoppach in the 8th inning. Having reached his pitch count limit, he then exits the game, but is credited with the Yanks’ 10 – 0 win.

Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth drive in three runs each as the Phillies hand the Astros their fifth straight loss since the start of the season, 9 – 6. Jamie Moyer picks up his first win of the year for Philadelphia.

Jose Reyes returns to the line-up for the first time since May of last year as the Mets lose to the Nationals, 4 – 3. His injury was one of those that torpedoed the Mets’ 2009 season after a good start.

Colby Lewis, who spent the last two seasons in Japan, picks up his first major league win since 2004, when he holds the Seattle Mariners to one run over seven innings in a 6 – 2 Rangers victory.

In his first plate appearance of the season, the Cardinals’ Nick Stavinoha hits a two-run pinch homer off all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman of the Brewers for a 5 – 4 win.

Randy Wells, one of the National League’s top rookie pitchers in 2009, picks up where he left off, pitching six shutout innings in leading the Cubs to their first win of the season, a 2 – 0 blanking of the Braves and fellow sophomore Tommy Hanson. Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd hit solo homers for the game’s only runs.

Dontrelle Willis pitches six solid innings in his return to the major leagues as the Tigers beat Kansas City, 7 – 3. Willis went on the disabled list after pitching poorly last June and was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Miguel Cabrera goes 4 for 5 with a homer for Detroit.