2011 – The Mets are swept in a doubleheader for the second time in three days as they go down, 4 – 2 and 4 – 0, to the Atlanta Braves. In the second game, Jair Jurrjens throws seven shutout innings in his return from the disabled list, while Alex Gonzalez is the hero in the opener, hitting two of the Braves’ four solo homers in support of Derek Lowe’s pitching. The Mets have now lost seven in a row.

Roy Halladay is acclimatizing well to the National League. He earns his third victory of the young season in an 8 – 6 Phillies win in wet conditions over the Florida Marlins. Working quickly, “Doc” allows only two runs in eight innings, but his bullpen makes things interesting as the Marlins collect five hits and four runs against David Herndon in the 9th. In the game, Florida’s Jorge Cantu’s record streak of games with a hit and RBI from the start of the season ends at 10, as he is unable to collect an RBI.

Giants CF Aaron Rowand suffers a fractured cheek and a mild concussion when hit by a pitch thrown by Vicente Padilla in the 5th inning of a game against the Dodgers. Rowand is taken to the hospital, and will be placed on the disabled list two days later. The Giants lose 10 – 8, as Todd Wellemeyer falls to Padilla.

The Cleveland Indians spoil the opening of New Yankee Stadium with a 10 – 2 win over the New York Yankees. Jhonny Peralta hits a two-run double off Jose Veras to break a 1 – 1 tie, then Grady Sizemore delivers the KO with a grand slam off Damaso Marte. Jorge Posada is the first batter to homer in the Yankees’ new ballpark with a solo shot off winning pitcher Cliff Lee in the 5th. New York had won 16 of their final 17 home openers at the old Yankee Stadium.

The Washington Nationals finally enter the win column, defeating the Phillies, 8 – 2, at home. Shairon Martis benefits from four home runs to get the win, which comes after the Nats lost seven straight to open the season.

The Mariners fall, 5 – 1, to the Angels but Ichiro Suzuki makes history in the losing effort. He collects the 3,086th hit of his pro career, breaking the Japanese record held for decades by Isao Harimoto.

Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers becomes the first player in American League history to hit eight home runs in his team’s first 12 games.

Albert Pujols belts three home runs, including a game-winning two-run blast, to power the St Louis Cardinals to an 8 – 7 decision over the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.

Manny Ramirez hits a two-run home run and a grand slam to knock in all of Boston’s runs in a 6 – 2 victory against Tampa Bay. Matt Clement wins in his Fenway Park debut. It is Ramirez’s 18th career grand slam, most among active players. The blast ties him for third on the all-time list with Willie McCovey and Robin Ventura, behind only Eddie Murray (19) and Lou Gehrig (23). It is Ramirez’s 40th career multi-homer game (38 two-homer games, two three-homer games).