Clayton Kershaw turns in a great all-around performance on Opening Day, pitching a four-hit shutout and homering off George Kontos in the 8th to break a scoreless tie as the Dodgers defeat the Giants, 4 – 0. Don Drysdale, back in 1965, was the last major league pitcher to pitch a shutout and homer on opening day, also for the Dodgers.

ByBaseball

Clayton Kershaw turns in a great all-around performance on Opening Day, pitching a four-hit shutout and homering off George Kontos in the 8th to break a scoreless tie as the Dodgers defeat the Giants, 4 – 0. Don Drysdale, back in 1965, was the last major league pitcher to pitch a shutout and homer on opening day, also for the Dodgers.

For the first time in major league history, an interleague contest is played on Opening Day, as the American League’s Angels visit the National League Reds. The Angels win, 3 – 1, in 13 innings, after both starters, Jered Weaver and Johnny Cueto are dominant in the early going. Worse than the loss for the Reds is the dislocated shoulder suffered by LF Ryan Ludwick, sustained when he dives for a ball in the 3rd inning. With the Houston Astros moving to the AL this season, there is a necessity to play at least one interleague series at all times, as both leagues now number an odd 15 teams.

ByBaseball

For the first time in major league history, an interleague contest is played on Opening Day, as the American League’s Angels visit the National League Reds. The Angels win, 3 – 1, in 13 innings, after both starters, Jered Weaver and Johnny Cueto are dominant in the early going. Worse than the loss for the Reds is the dislocated shoulder suffered by LF Ryan Ludwick, sustained when he dives for a ball in the 3rd inning. With the Houston Astros moving to the AL this season, there is a necessity to play at least one interleague series at all times, as both leagues now number an odd 15 teams.

2013 – Houston wins its first game as an American League team, overpowering cross-state rivals Texas, 8 – 2, in the opening game of the season. Justin Maxwell hits a pair of triples, only the sixth player to do so on Opening Day, and Rick Ankiel pinch-hits a three-run homer in the 6th. Bud Norris is the winner and Erik Bedard records his first career save with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. This will be a rare highlight in a season in which the Astros set a franchise record for losses for the third straight year.

ByTom

2013 – Houston wins its first game as an American League team, overpowering cross-state rivals Texas, 8 – 2, in the opening game of the season. Justin Maxwell hits a pair of triples, only the sixth player to do so on Opening Day, and Rick Ankiel pinch-hits a three-run homer in the 6th. Bud Norris is the winner and Erik Bedard records his first career save with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. This will be a rare highlight in a season in which the Astros set a franchise record for losses for the third straight year.

2013 – With Opening Day just around the corner, a few teams ink star players to long-term deals. In Detroit, P Justin Verlander agrees to a $120 million extension for 5 years, with an option for a sixth at $22 million; the Giants lock up C Buster Posey for 8 years at $159 million; and the Diamondbacks sign 1B Paul Goldschmidt for five years at $32 million – which seems like mere pennies compared to the other deals.

ByTom

2013 – With Opening Day just around the corner, a few teams ink star players to long-term deals. In Detroit, P Justin Verlander agrees to a $120 million extension for 5 years, with an option for a sixth at $22 million; the Giants lock up C Buster Posey for 8 years at $159 million; and the Diamondbacks sign 1B Paul Goldschmidt for five years at $32 million – which seems like mere pennies compared to the other deals.

The Giants and Buster Posey, last season’s National League MVP, come to terms on an eight-year, $159 million contract extension that includes a full no-trade clause. The deal, which will keep the 26 year-old backstop in a Giants’ uniform through 2021, is the second-richest contract ever given to a catcher, surpassed only by the Twins’ signing of Joe Mauer two seasons ago to an eight-year, $184 million pact.

ByTom

The Giants and Buster Posey, last season’s National League MVP, come to terms on an eight-year, $159 million contract extension that includes a full no-trade clause. The deal, which will keep the 26 year-old backstop in a Giants’ uniform through 2021, is the second-richest contract ever given to a catcher, surpassed only by the Twins’ signing of Joe Mauer two seasons ago to an eight-year, $184 million pact.

2013 – The Yankees place starting pitcher Phil Hughes on a crowded disabled list, where he joins teammates Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, all of whom will miss Opening Day.

ByTom

2013 – The Yankees place starting pitcher Phil Hughes on a crowded disabled list, where he joins teammates Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, all of whom will miss Opening Day.

2013 – Sic transit gloria. Barely a week after completing a tremendous 2013 World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic by beating Puerto Rico in the championship game, P Samuel Deduno is reassigned to minor league camp by the Twins and will begin the year with the AAA Rochester Red Wings.

ByTom

2013 – Sic transit gloria. Barely a week after completing a tremendous 2013 World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic by beating Puerto Rico in the championship game, P Samuel Deduno is reassigned to minor league camp by the Twins and will begin the year with the AAA Rochester Red Wings.

2013 – The Brewers sign pitcher Kyle Lohse to a three-year contract worth $33 million. Coming off a great season for the Cardinals, Lohse was the last remaining unsigned free agent of the spring, as agent Scott Boras decided to take his client to the brink in the hope that a team desperate for pitching would make him an offer.

ByTom

2013 – The Brewers sign pitcher Kyle Lohse to a three-year contract worth $33 million. Coming off a great season for the Cardinals, Lohse was the last remaining unsigned free agent of the spring, as agent Scott Boras decided to take his client to the brink in the hope that a team desperate for pitching would make him an offer.

At the 2012-2013 Cuban All-Star Game, the West rolls in a 13-9 slugfest, with 3 runs and 3 RBI from Yasmani Tomás and 3 runs from José Miguel Fernández to overcome a two-homer, three-RBI day from Yoelvis Fiss. Carlos Juan Viera allows 7 runs in the last 1 1/3 innings to take the loss for the East.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At the 2012-2013 Cuban All-Star Game, the West rolls in a 13-9 slugfest, with 3 runs and 3 RBI from Yasmani Tomás and 3 runs from José Miguel Fernández to overcome a two-homer, three-RBI day from Yoelvis Fiss. Carlos Juan Viera allows 7 runs in the last 1 1/3 innings to take the loss for the East.

The Yankees acquire veteran OF Vernon Wells from the Angels, adding a much-needed major league bat to a line-up depleted by injuries and departures via free agency. However, Wells is still owed $42 million for the last two seasons on his huge multi-year contract, and has put up dismal OBPs since the Angels acquired him from Toronto two seasons ago; as part of the deal, the Angels will remain on the hook for the majority of the money owed him. The deal will officially be completed in two days, with the Yankees giving up two low-level minor league players in return for Wells.

ByTom

The Yankees acquire veteran OF Vernon Wells from the Angels, adding a much-needed major league bat to a line-up depleted by injuries and departures via free agency. However, Wells is still owed $42 million for the last two seasons on his huge multi-year contract, and has put up dismal OBPs since the Angels acquired him from Toronto two seasons ago; as part of the deal, the Angels will remain on the hook for the majority of the money owed him. The deal will officially be completed in two days, with the Yankees giving up two low-level minor league players in return for Wells.