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.

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.

Sam Fuld has the night of his life in his return to Fenway Park, where the New Hampshire native attended plenty of ball games as a kid, getting four extra-base hits in Tampa Bay’s 16 – 5 win over Boston. After hitting a double, a triple and a homer in his first five at-bats, he comes up in the 9th inning needing only a single to complete a cycle, but instead lashes a double into the left field corner against Dan Wheeler. His homer comes in the 2nd against losing P Daisuke Matsuzaka and puts the Red Sox in an early 7 – 0 hole they can never dig out of. Fuld also robs Dustin Pedroia of extra bases with a diving catch in left-center in the 5th. Jeremy Hellickson is the beneficiary of the scoring outburst, recording his first win of the year. Both teams are now 2-8, tied with Houston for the worst record in the majors at this early point of the season.

ByTom

Sam Fuld has the night of his life in his return to Fenway Park, where the New Hampshire native attended plenty of ball games as a kid, getting four extra-base hits in Tampa Bay’s 16 – 5 win over Boston. After hitting a double, a triple and a homer in his first five at-bats, he comes up in the 9th inning needing only a single to complete a cycle, but instead lashes a double into the left field corner against Dan Wheeler. His homer comes in the 2nd against losing P Daisuke Matsuzaka and puts the Red Sox in an early 7 – 0 hole they can never dig out of. Fuld also robs Dustin Pedroia of extra bases with a diving catch in left-center in the 5th. Jeremy Hellickson is the beneficiary of the scoring outburst, recording his first win of the year. Both teams are now 2-8, tied with Houston for the worst record in the majors at this early point of the season.

In his second major league start, Alexi Ogando pitches seven scoreless innings in a 2 – 0 win over Detroit and ace Justin Verlander as the Rangers improve their best-in-baseball record to 9-1. Ogando has not allowed a run in 13 innings this year. Miguel Cabrera hits his 300th double, becoming the second major leaguer to tally that many before his 28th birthday (Joe Medwick was the first).

ByTom

In his second major league start, Alexi Ogando pitches seven scoreless innings in a 2 – 0 win over Detroit and ace Justin Verlander as the Rangers improve their best-in-baseball record to 9-1. Ogando has not allowed a run in 13 innings this year. Miguel Cabrera hits his 300th double, becoming the second major leaguer to tally that many before his 28th birthday (Joe Medwick was the first).

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.

ByTom

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.

ByTom

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 Florida Marlins set a franchise record with six home runs in a win. Jeremy Hermida goes deep twice and Jorge Cantu, Hanley Ramirez, Mike Jacobs and Mike Rabelo all hit one out as Florida beats the Astros, 10 – 6. Roy Oswalt gives up four of the home runs.

ByTom

The Florida Marlins set a franchise record with six home runs in a win. Jeremy Hermida goes deep twice and Jorge Cantu, Hanley Ramirez, Mike Jacobs and Mike Rabelo all hit one out as Florida beats the Astros, 10 – 6. Roy Oswalt gives up four of the home runs.

At Minute Maid Park, the Marlins set a club record, blasting six home runs en route to a 10-6 win against the Astros. Jeremy Hermida hit a pair of round-trippers, and teammates Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, and Mike Rabelo contributed solo homers in Florida’s fourth straight victory, matching the team’s longest winning streak last season.

ByTom

At Minute Maid Park, the Marlins set a club record, blasting six home runs en route to a 10-6 win against the Astros. Jeremy Hermida hit a pair of round-trippers, and teammates Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, and Mike Rabelo contributed solo homers in Florida’s fourth straight victory, matching the team’s longest winning streak last season.

For the third time in the past six years, Major League Baseball adopts a stricter steroids policy. Increased testing is instituted and more power is given to outside administrators. Players named in the Mitchell Report are given amnesty and suspensions for Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons are eliminated.

ByTom

For the third time in the past six years, Major League Baseball adopts a stricter steroids policy. Increased testing is instituted and more power is given to outside administrators. Players named in the Mitchell Report are given amnesty and suspensions for Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons are eliminated.

Derrek Lee signs a five-year, $65 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. The new contract calls for a $13 million annual salary until 2010 and contains a no-trade clause. Lee hit .335 with 46 home runs and 107 runs batted in last year while winning a Gold Glove at first base.

ByTom

Derrek Lee signs a five-year, $65 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. The new contract calls for a $13 million annual salary until 2010 and contains a no-trade clause. Lee hit .335 with 46 home runs and 107 runs batted in last year while winning a Gold Glove at first base.