After a wait of 108 years, a two-hour rain delay pushes back the ceremony to raise the Cubs’ 2016 World Championship banner at Wrigley Field a little bit more, but a boisterous sellout crowd is on hand to see 1B Anthony Rizzo being the first player to raise the flag and to take the World Series Trophy on the field. Rizzo is then the hero of the home opener, as his 9th-inning single off Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers drives in the winning run in a 3 – 2 win.

ByTom

After a wait of 108 years, a two-hour rain delay pushes back the ceremony to raise the Cubs’ 2016 World Championship banner at Wrigley Field a little bit more, but a boisterous sellout crowd is on hand to see 1B Anthony Rizzo being the first player to raise the flag and to take the World Series Trophy on the field. Rizzo is then the hero of the home opener, as his 9th-inning single off Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers drives in the winning run in a 3 – 2 win.

the Angels score 7 in the 9th mounting a tremendous comeback to defeat the Mariners

the Angels score 7 in the 9th mounting a tremendous comeback to defeat the Mariners

ByBaseball

Trailing 8 – 1 in the 8th and 9 – 3 in the bottom of the 9th, the Angels mount a tremendous comeback to defeat the Mariners, 10 – 9. Albert Pujols, who had homered earlier in the inning, ties the game with a two-run single, before Cliff Pennington drives in Mike Trout with the winning run. Yunel Escobar adds a two-run double as Casey Fien and Edwin Diaz give up 7 runs in the fateful inning. Robinson Cano drives in 5 runs with a double and a homer in a losing cause.

The Phillies have the biggest 1st inning in team history as they score 12 runs on their way to a 17 – 3 rout of the Nationals. A bases-loaded triple by Howie Kendrick highlights the frame which features 9 hits and 4 walks against Jeremy Guthrie and Enny Romero. Washington sets a team mark for most runs allowed in any inning.

ByBaseball

The Phillies have the biggest 1st inning in team history as they score 12 runs on their way to a 17 – 3 rout of the Nationals. A bases-loaded triple by Howie Kendrick highlights the frame which features 9 hits and 4 walks against Jeremy Guthrie and Enny Romero. Washington sets a team mark for most runs allowed in any inning.

Tommy Hansen, who did not hit a home run as a member of the freshman team last season, becomes the first high schooler in history to hit three consecutive grand slams in one game when he goes deep three times in Roncalli’s 12-1 win over Metamora Township (IL). Five other players in a high school game have also hit a trio of bases-full round-trippers in a high school contest, but none accomplished the feat in consecutive at-bats.

ByTom

Tommy Hansen, who did not hit a home run as a member of the freshman team last season, becomes the first high schooler in history to hit three consecutive grand slams in one game when he goes deep three times in Roncalli’s 12-1 win over Metamora Township (IL). Five other players in a high school game have also hit a trio of bases-full round-trippers in a high school contest, but none accomplished the feat in consecutive at-bats.

Reds relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen blasts a 420-foot home run to centerfield as a pinch-hitter against the Phillies’ Adam Morgan. The 6th-inning homer breaks a 4 -4 tie and Cincinnati goes on to win, 7 – 4. Micah Owingshad been the last pitcher to hit a pinch homer, back on May 10, 2009.

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Reds relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen blasts a 420-foot home run to centerfield as a pinch-hitter against the Phillies’ Adam Morgan. The 6th-inning homer breaks a 4 -4 tie and Cincinnati goes on to win, 7 – 4. Micah Owingshad been the last pitcher to hit a pinch homer, back on May 10, 2009.

Cardinals C Yadier Molina loses a ball when it bounces in the dirt and then gets stuck to his chest protector, allowing Cubs PH Matt Szczur to reach base on a dropped third strike in the 7th inning while Molina is frantically looking around to find the disappeared spheroid. The bizarre play turns out to be instrumental, as Brett Cecil walks the next batter, Jon Jay, and Kyle Schwarber follows with a three-run homer and Chicago wins, 6 – 4.

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Cardinals C Yadier Molina loses a ball when it bounces in the dirt and then gets stuck to his chest protector, allowing Cubs PH Matt Szczur to reach base on a dropped third strike in the 7th inning while Molina is frantically looking around to find the disappeared spheroid. The bizarre play turns out to be instrumental, as Brett Cecil walks the next batter, Jon Jay, and Kyle Schwarber follows with a three-run homer and Chicago wins, 6 – 4.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow makes his much anticipated minor league debut with the Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League and promptly blasts a home run. The jury is still out on whether the 29-year-old outfielder can make it in baseball, as he strikes out in three of his remaining four at-bats, but he is undeniably an unending source of good copy for reporters.

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Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow makes his much anticipated minor league debut with the Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League and promptly blasts a home run. The jury is still out on whether the 29-year-old outfielder can make it in baseball, as he strikes out in three of his remaining four at-bats, but he is undeniably an unending source of good copy for reporters.

Stephen Piscotty has a painful run around the bases

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2017 – OF Stephen Piscotty has a painful run around the bases in the 5th inning of the Cardinals’ game against the Cubs. First, he reaches base when plunked of the left elbow by Jake Arrieta, then gets hit on the other elbow by C Willson Contreras when he advances to second on a wild pitch. He comes in to score when the Cubs misplay a ground ball near first base, but in the process is whacked in the head by 2B Javier Baez’s throw home and has to leave the game with a possible concussion. His is the only run in a 2 – 1 loss by the Cards.

2017 – Christian Bethancourt’s bid to become the first two-way player in the majors in over a decade does not get off to a good start. The former catcher pitching for the Padres on opening day relieves Jhoulys Chacin in the 4th with his team trailing the Dodgers, 7 – 1, and immediately uncorks wild pitches on his first two deliveries to the plate, both times scoring a run. He gets out of the inning when a couple of long fly balls are caught just shy of clearing the fence, but in the 5th, Corey Seager touches him for a three-run homer as Los Angeles goes on to win a 14 – 3 rout. For L.A., Joc Pederson hits a grand slam and drives in 5 runs and Yasmani Grandal homers from both sides of the plate, as the team wins its opening game for the seventh straight season – every time behind the pitching of ace Clayton Kershaw.

ByBaseball

2017 – Christian Bethancourt’s bid to become the first two-way player in the majors in over a decade does not get off to a good start. The former catcher pitching for the Padres on opening day relieves Jhoulys Chacin in the 4th with his team trailing the Dodgers, 7 – 1, and immediately uncorks wild pitches on his first two deliveries to the plate, both times scoring a run. He gets out of the inning when a couple of long fly balls are caught just shy of clearing the fence, but in the 5th, Corey Seager touches him for a three-run homer as Los Angeles goes on to win a 14 – 3 rout. For L.A., Joc Pederson hits a grand slam and drives in 5 runs and Yasmani Grandal homers from both sides of the plate, as the team wins its opening game for the seventh straight season – every time behind the pitching of ace Clayton Kershaw.