At McAfee Coliseum, the Texas Rangers defeat the Oakland Athletics, 9 – 6. The loss snaps the Athletics’ string of 20 straight wins at home, stretching back to August 24th of last year. Oakland moves past the 1974-1975Cincinnati Reds for most consecutive home wins over two seasons. The Reds’ mark was 17.

ByBaseball

At McAfee Coliseum, the Texas Rangers defeat the Oakland Athletics, 9 – 6. The loss snaps the Athletics’ string of 20 straight wins at home, stretching back to August 24th of last year. Oakland moves past the 1974-1975Cincinnati Reds for most consecutive home wins over two seasons. The Reds’ mark was 17.

Barry Bonds becomes the second player in baseball history to begin a season with consecutive two-homer games. Eddie Mathews also hit a pair of homers in each of the Braves’ first two games against the Pirates to start the 1958 season.

ByBaseball

Barry Bonds becomes the second player in baseball history to begin a season with consecutive two-homer games. Eddie Mathews also hit a pair of homers in each of the Braves’ first two games against the Pirates to start the 1958 season.

|

4/3/2002: Darrin Fletcher of the Blue Jays hit a home run off Dustin Hermanson of the Red Sox in the second inning of a game at Fenway Park. In the bottom of the inning, Jason Varitek homered off Luke Prokopec. Both blasts came with two out and no one on base. The game was called due to rain after two innings had been played.

ByTom

4/3/2002: Darrin Fletcher of the Blue Jays hit a home run off Dustin Hermanson of the Red Sox in the second inning of a game at Fenway Park. In the bottom of the inning, Jason Varitek homered off Luke Prokopec. Both blasts came with two out and no one on base. The game was called due to rain after two innings had been played.

|

2001 – Craig Biggio returns from knee surgery in style with the first five-hit game of his career during an 11-3 Opening Day win against Milwaukee, scoring three times. Daryle Ward and Chris Truby belt homers. 

ByTom

2001 – Craig Biggio returns from knee surgery in style with the first five-hit game of his career during an 11-3 Opening Day win against Milwaukee, scoring three times. Daryle Ward and Chris Truby belt homers. 

Andres Galarraga hits a home run in his first game back after missing the entire 1999 season following cancer surgery as the Braves defeat the Rockies, 2 – 0.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Andres Galarraga hits a home run in his first game back after missing the entire 1999 season following cancer surgery as the Braves defeat the Rockies, 2 – 0.

A new major league record for Opening Day is set with five players having multiple home run games. Gabe Kapler becomes the first player to hit home runs in his first two at-bats in a Texas Rangers uniform and his teammate Ivan Rodriguez also hits a pair of homers in a 10 – 4 Texas victory against the Chicago White Sox. Vladimir Guerrero hits a pair of homers for the Montreal Expos but the Dodgers defeat Montreal, 10 – 4, behind Eric Karros’ grand slam. Jason Giambi of the Oakland Athletics hits two home runs against the Detroit Tigers. Despite Giambi’s effort, Detroit edges the Athletics, 7 – 4.

ByBaseball

A new major league record for Opening Day is set with five players having multiple home run games. Gabe Kapler becomes the first player to hit home runs in his first two at-bats in a Texas Rangers uniform and his teammate Ivan Rodriguez also hits a pair of homers in a 10 – 4 Texas victory against the Chicago White Sox. Vladimir Guerrero hits a pair of homers for the Montreal Expos but the Dodgers defeat Montreal, 10 – 4, behind Eric Karros’ grand slam. Jason Giambi of the Oakland Athletics hits two home runs against the Detroit Tigers. Despite Giambi’s effort, Detroit edges the Athletics, 7 – 4.

|

1998 – It’s not in Colorado, but the Astros club the Rockies as if it was, 15-2. Derek Bell, now hitting in front of Jeff Bagwell in the lineup, drives in six and keys a seven-run uprising to put the game away. 

ByTom

1998 – It’s not in Colorado, but the Astros club the Rockies as if it was, 15-2. Derek Bell, now hitting in front of Jeff Bagwell in the lineup, drives in six and keys a seven-run uprising to put the game away. 

Milwaukee Brewers SS Jose Valentin strokes three home runs and drives in five runs to lead Milwaukee to a 7 – 1 victory over the Florida Marlins.

ByBaseball

Milwaukee Brewers SS Jose Valentin strokes three home runs and drives in five runs to lead Milwaukee to a 7 – 1 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Just four days after being obtained in a trade with Cleveland, Reds 1B Sean Casey is hit in the eye by a ball thrown by Damian Jackson during batting practice. His eye orbit is fractured, and will require surgery on April 8th.

ByBaseball

Just four days after being obtained in a trade with Cleveland, Reds 1B Sean Casey is hit in the eye by a ball thrown by Damian Jackson during batting practice. His eye orbit is fractured, and will require surgery on April 8th.

1997 – Pitcher Jimmy Key makes his debut with the Orioles, beating the Royals, 4 – 2, to run his opening day record to 7-0, the best ever. Previously, Key won three with the Yankees and three with the Blue Jays.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1997 – Pitcher Jimmy Key makes his debut with the Orioles, beating the Royals, 4 – 2, to run his opening day record to 7-0, the best ever. Previously, Key won three with the Yankees and three with the Blue Jays.