March 21

2019 – The Mariners complete a season-opening two-game sweep of their opening series against the Athletics at the Tokyo Dome with a 5 – 4 win in 12 innings in the second game. Domingo Santana, whose grand slam was the decisive blow in the first game yesterday, beats out a potential double play grounder to drive in the winning run. Ichiro Suzuki goes 0 for 4 as Seattle’s right fielder, then leaves after the 8th inning. He announces after the game that he will now retire from baseball for good.

2018 – The Orioles make a late spring training addition to their pitching staff as they sign free agent Alex Cobb to a four-year deal worth $57 million. Cobb made a nice comeback from Tommy John surgery, winning 12 games for the Rays last season.

2017 – In the second semi-final game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the United States defeats Japan, 2 – 1, to reach the finals for the first time, where they will face unbeaten Puerto Rico. In a game dominated by pitching, the U.S. goes ahead in the 4th as Andrew McCutchen singles in Christian Yelich, but that is all that they manage in six innings against Japanese starter Tomoyuki Sugano. Japan ties the score in the 6th on a homer by Ryosuke Kikuchi, but a bobble by 3B Nobuhiro Matsuda in the 8th allows Brandon Crawford to score the go-ahead run. Mark Melancon, Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson then get the final six outs to close out the win.

2013 – The New York Mets name 3B David Wright as team captain, the fourth in franchise history, the first since John Franco last played for the team in 2004.

2012 – Cardinals World Series hero Chris Carpenter will not be ready for the start of the season, complaining of weakness in his throwing shoulder and stiffness in his neck. Veteran journeyman Kyle Lohse will be given the Opening Day starting assignment, while Lance Lynn will move to the starting rotation until Carpenter’s return.

The Mets get rid of a second highly-paid player in less than a week, handing P Oliver Perez his release a few days after doing the same to 2B Luis Castillo. Perez is still owed $12 million on a three-year contract that turned out to be a colossal bust. He will be immediately picked up by the Nationals, while the Mets continue to pay the bulk of his salary.

The perjury trial of Barry Bonds, officially named “USA vs. Bonds”, begins in San Francisco, CA with jury selection. The past few weeks have been spent arguing over what evidence would be admissible as the prosecution seeks to demonstrate that Bonds lied to a grand jury in 2003 during the BALCO investigation when he stated that he had never knowingly used steroids. Bonds also faces a charge of obstruction of justice.

The Minnesota Twins get some bad news as they learn that closer Joe Nathan will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a tear in a ligament in his elbow. He will miss the entire season.

Eric Gagné’s return to the Dodgers is short-lived, as the team releases him. He had accepted an assignment to the minor leagues a few days ago, but reconsidered and asked for his release in order to find another opportunity to return to the major leagues. He will retire instead.

2009 – In the semifinals of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, South Korea scores five runs in the 1st and goes on to a 10 – 2 romp over Venezuela. Suk-min Yoon and four relievers shut down the All-Star-loaded Venezuelans, while Hyun-soo Kim, who is 3 for 3 with a walk, and Tae-kyun Kim, who scores three runs, lead South Korea’s offense.