On opening day the Astros pull off the first triple play begun with a strikeout
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On opening day the Astros pull off the first triple play begun with a strikeout

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – The traditional Opening Day in Cincinnati is an 11-9 loss to the Reds. Terry Puhl begins the season with a leadoff homer against Tom Seaver and is later joined by Cesar Cedeno and Joe Ferguson in the longball department. Ferguson also starts a triple play when he catches strike three from Joe Sambito, throws out George Foster stealing second then watches Joe Morgan get caught in a rundown between third and home. 

1977 – For the second time in nine years, a new franchise makes its major league debut in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners lose their first regular season game at the Kingdome to Frank Tanana and the Angels, 7 – 0. Joe Rudi is 3 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBIs. The loser for the M’s is Diego Segui‚ who pitched in the Seattle Pilots’ Opener in 1969‚ a 4 – 3 loss at Anaheim. Segui is the only player to appear for both the Pilots and the Mariners.

ByBaseball

1977 – For the second time in nine years, a new franchise makes its major league debut in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners lose their first regular season game at the Kingdome to Frank Tanana and the Angels, 7 – 0. Joe Rudi is 3 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBIs. The loser for the M’s is Diego Segui‚ who pitched in the Seattle Pilots’ Opener in 1969‚ a 4 – 3 loss at Anaheim. Segui is the only player to appear for both the Pilots and the Mariners.

Despite a snowfall of 4 inches this morning‚ the Reds open against the Padres‚ winning 5 – 3. The snow‚ which stops falling at 11:30 is cleared out of the stadium a half hour before the game’s start.

ByBaseball

Despite a snowfall of 4 inches this morning‚ the Reds open against the Padres‚ winning 5 – 3. The snow‚ which stops falling at 11:30 is cleared out of the stadium a half hour before the game’s start.

New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians, 6 – 1, at Shea Stadium.

ByBaseball

The New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians, 6 – 1, at Shea Stadium. This is the Yanks’ first game of a two-year period at Shea while Yankee Stadium is being rebuilt. 12-year-old Teddy Kennedy‚ Jr.‚ flanked by his father and Mayor Abe Beame‚ tosses out the first ball. Missing from the ceremony is George Steinbrenner‚ indicted two days earlier for illegal campaign contributions. Graig Nettles’ two-run homer in the 4th off the Indians’ Gaylord Perry opens the scoring and the Yanks score 4 more times to win. Charlie Spikes scores the only Cleveland run in the 9th following a triple off starter and winner Mel Stottlemyre. Perry‚ who is warned once for an illegal pitch‚ is the loser today‚ but he will win his next 15 decisions.

The Royals set a team record for runs‚ rolling over the Twins‚ 23 – 6. The 20th Kansas City run comes on Frank White’s first major league homer.

ByBaseball

The Royals set a team record for runs‚ rolling over the Twins‚ 23 – 6. The 20th Kansas City run comes on Frank White’s first major league homer.

At Veterans Stadium, Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt hits a ninth inning two-run home run off Tug McGraw to beat the Mets on Opening Day, 5-4. The walk-off homer is the first of the league-leading 36 dingers the third baseman will hit this season.

At Veterans Stadium, Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt hits a ninth inning two-run home run off Tug McGraw to beat the Mets on Opening Day, 5-4. The walk-off homer is the first of the league-leading 36 dingers the third baseman will hit this season.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Veterans Stadium, Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt hits a ninth inning two-run home run off Tug McGraw to beat the Mets on Opening Day, 5-4. The walk-off homer is the first of the league-leading 36 dingers the third baseman will hit this season.

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Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.

ByTom

1973 – Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.