P Masahiro Tanaka makes his much anticipated debut for the Yankees, defeating Toronto, 7 – 3, in front of dozens of Japanese journalists on hand for the occasion. Tanaka gives up a homer to the first batter he faces, Melky Cabrera, but then settles down to pitch 7 solid innings. 1B Mark Teixeira has to leave the game in the 2nd inning with a hamstring injury, a flashback to last year’s plague of pinstripe injuries.

CF Charlie Blackmon ties a Rockies team record by going 6 for 6 and also drives in 5 runs in a 12 – 2 win over the Diamondbacks. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt extends his hitting streak, dating back to last season, to 26 games, but at 1-6, his team is off to the worst start in its history, tied with the expansion 1998 edition.

The Rangers sign SS Elvis Andrus to an eight-year contract extension thast will pay him $120 million through 2022, continuing a recent trend of teams signing their star players over the long term in order to ensure cost certainty.

The Yankees record their first win of the season by turning to their storied past. Andy Pettitte picks up the win and Mariano Rivera gets the save in his first appearance following a serious knee injury that almost ended his career as they defeat the Red Sox, 4 – 2. It is Rivera’s record 19th season as a Yankee, although Derek Jeter will join him when he is activated form the disabled list later this season.

Joey Votto and the Reds agree to the longest guaranteed contract in major league history, a $251.5 million, 12-year deal. The dollar amount, second only to A-Rod’s $275 million and $252 million pacts with the Rangers and Yankees, easily surpasses Ken Griffey Jr.’s $116.5 million, nine-year signing in 2000 as the richest in franchise history.

2012 – The Miami Marlins inaugurate a new name and a new ballpark, Marlins Park, but lose, 4 – 1, to the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of the National League season. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali delivers the ceremonial first pitch. Kyle Lohse dowses the home fans’ enthusiasm by holding the Marlins hitless until the 7th to earn the win, while World Series hero David Freese drives in two runs with a single in the top of the 1st.

Rangers RF Nelson Cruz ties a mark set by Willie Mays in 1971 and Mark McGwire in 1998 by becoming the third player to homer in his team’s first four games to start the season. SS Elvis Andrus joins in the fun, ending a 705 at-bat home run drought dating back to 2009 when he connects in the 1st inning. Texas defeats Seattle, 6 – 4, to move to 4-0 on the year. For the Mariners, Erik Bedard is the loser in his first major league start since undergoing shoulder surgery on August 14, 2009.

The Orioles are also 4-0 after beating the Tigers, 5 – 1, in their home opener at Camden Yards. Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver throws the ceremonial first pitch, then Jake Arrieta takes over with six strong innings, the fourth straight outstanding performance by an Oriole starting pitcher. Brian Roberts hits a three-run homer off Rick Porcello to put the Birds ahead to stay.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.