The Athletics’ Tom Milone pitches 6 perfect innings in a Cactus League game against the A’s AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. Reliever Andrew Carignan walks a pair of batters in the 7th, but gives up no hits, and the game is then called on account of rain, giving Oakland a 9 – 0 no-hit victory. Sacramento’s Jarrod Parker, who is auditioning for the A’s fifth starter job, is a lot less impressive than his counterpart, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings.

ByTom

The Athletics’ Tom Milone pitches 6 perfect innings in a Cactus League game against the A’s AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. Reliever Andrew Carignan walks a pair of batters in the 7th, but gives up no hits, and the game is then called on account of rain, giving Oakland a 9 – 0 no-hit victory. Sacramento’s Jarrod Parker, who is auditioning for the A’s fifth starter job, is a lot less impressive than his counterpart, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings.

It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball and the Reds win in dramatic fashion in Cincinnati to start off the National League’s schedule. Trailing 6 – 3 in the bottom of the 9th, they rally for four runs against Brewers closer John Axford when Ramon Hernandez slugs a three-run walk-off homer with two outs for a 7 – 6 win. Milwaukee starts the game with a bang as Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez open the contest with back-to-back homers off Edinson Volquez; Ryan Braun, Drew Stubbs and Joey Votto also go yard in the wild contest.

ByTom

It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball and the Reds win in dramatic fashion in Cincinnati to start off the National League’s schedule. Trailing 6 – 3 in the bottom of the 9th, they rally for four runs against Brewers closer John Axford when Ramon Hernandez slugs a three-run walk-off homer with two outs for a 7 – 6 win. Milwaukee starts the game with a bang as Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez open the contest with back-to-back homers off Edinson Volquez; Ryan Braun, Drew Stubbs and Joey Votto also go yard in the wild contest.

The day is marred by a tragic incident at Dodger Stadium after the opener between the Giants and Dodgers. Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, is assaulted by Dodger fans for nothing more than wearing a Giants cap and suffers injuries that leave him in a coma. His family will later sue Dodgers owner Frank McCourt for cutting back on security and lighting in the parking lot where the assault occured. After an intensive investigation, Los Angeles Police will arrest a suspect on May 22nd.

ByTom

The day is marred by a tragic incident at Dodger Stadium after the opener between the Giants and Dodgers. Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, is assaulted by Dodger fans for nothing more than wearing a Giants cap and suffers injuries that leave him in a coma. His family will later sue Dodgers owner Frank McCourt for cutting back on security and lighting in the parking lot where the assault occured. After an intensive investigation, Los Angeles Police will arrest a suspect on May 22nd.

The Yankees are successful on opening day, beating Detroit, 6 – 3, at home. Curtis Granderson, whose health was a concern before the start of the game because of a strained right oblique muscle, makes a diving catch of a line drive hit by Will Rhymes in the 1st, then breaks a 3 – 3 tie with a solo homer off Phil Coke in the 7th. Mark Teixeira had earlier hit a three-run blast to tie the score in the 3rd. New Yankee starting C Russell Martin scores twice in his debut in pinstripes as Joba Chamberlain picks up the win and Mariano Rivera the save.

ByTom

The Yankees are successful on opening day, beating Detroit, 6 – 3, at home. Curtis Granderson, whose health was a concern before the start of the game because of a strained right oblique muscle, makes a diving catch of a line drive hit by Will Rhymes in the 1st, then breaks a 3 – 3 tie with a solo homer off Phil Coke in the 7th. Mark Teixeira had earlier hit a three-run blast to tie the score in the 3rd. New Yankee starting C Russell Martin scores twice in his debut in pinstripes as Joba Chamberlain picks up the win and Mariano Rivera the save.

Shingo Takatsu saves his first game in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, becoming the first player with saves in the CPBL, Major League Baseball, Nippon Pro Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.

ByTom

Shingo Takatsu saves his first game in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, becoming the first player with saves in the CPBL, Major League Baseball, Nippon Pro Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.

With spring training coming to an end, the disabled list is getting crowded. Among those who will miss the beginning of the season are Mets SS Jose Reyes, who missed most of 2009 with injuries and joins teammates Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Kelvim Escobar on the list; Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, suffering from a sprained ankle; Astros 1B Lance Berkman, recovering from knee surgery, and two Houston pitchers, Alberto Arias and Yorman Bazardo; Rockies closer Huston Street, shelved by shoulder stiffness; and Toronto P Mark Rzepczynski, out with a broken finger, the result of being struck on his pitching hand by a ball batted by the Yankees’ Ramiro Pena a day earlier.

ByThis Day in Baseball

With spring training coming to an end, the disabled list is getting crowded. Among those who will miss the beginning of the season are Mets SS Jose Reyes, who missed most of 2009 with injuries and joins teammates Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Kelvim Escobar on the list; Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, suffering from a sprained ankle; Astros 1B Lance Berkman, recovering from knee surgery, and two Houston pitchers, Alberto Arias and Yorman Bazardo; Rockies closer Huston Street, shelved by shoulder stiffness; and Toronto P Mark Rzepczynski, out with a broken finger, the result of being struck on his pitching hand by a ball batted by the Yankees’ Ramiro Pena a day earlier.

The Industriales win their record 12th Cuban Serie Nacional title, topping Villa Clara, 7 – 5, in 10 innings in Game 7 of the 2009-2010 Serie Nacional finals. It is their second straight back-to-the-wall win on the road in the series. Raiko Olivares drives in the winner, Rudy Reyes gets 3 hits (including a homer) and youngster Joan Socarrás fans 5 in 2 1/3 hitless relief innings for the win. In a losing cause, Yandy Canto hits a 3-run homer.

ByTom

The Industriales win their record 12th Cuban Serie Nacional title, topping Villa Clara, 7 – 5, in 10 innings in Game 7 of the 2009-2010 Serie Nacional finals. It is their second straight back-to-the-wall win on the road in the series. Raiko Olivares drives in the winner, Rudy Reyes gets 3 hits (including a homer) and youngster Joan Socarrás fans 5 in 2 1/3 hitless relief innings for the win. In a losing cause, Yandy Canto hits a 3-run homer.

In a Grapefruit League game in Tampa, FL, Twins OF Denard Span proves to be a bad son, fouling a pitch straight at his mother, sitting in the third base stands, in the 1st inning against the Yankees. Span rushes to the stands to his mom’s aid, but Wanda Wilson is all right after being checked over by medical staff. Span, playing in his hometown, leaves the game two innings later to be at his mother’s side for the rest of the contest.

ByTom

In a Grapefruit League game in Tampa, FL, Twins OF Denard Span proves to be a bad son, fouling a pitch straight at his mother, sitting in the third base stands, in the 1st inning against the Yankees. Span rushes to the stands to his mom’s aid, but Wanda Wilson is all right after being checked over by medical staff. Span, playing in his hometown, leaves the game two innings later to be at his mother’s side for the rest of the contest.

2009 – The Detroit Tigers surprisingly cut slugger Gary Sheffield, who is one home run shy of 500 for his career. Sheffield, a 9-time All-Star, is 25th on the all-time home run list and 27th in RBI (1,633). He only hit .178 in spring training, but went deep in 5 of 45 at-bats. He says he is not shocked, but is surprised. Marcus Thames will replace Sheffield as Detroit’s starting DH.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2009 – The Detroit Tigers surprisingly cut slugger Gary Sheffield, who is one home run shy of 500 for his career. Sheffield, a 9-time All-Star, is 25th on the all-time home run list and 27th in RBI (1,633). He only hit .178 in spring training, but went deep in 5 of 45 at-bats. He says he is not shocked, but is surprised. Marcus Thames will replace Sheffield as Detroit’s starting DH.

In one of the wildest Opening Days in Pittsburgh Pirates franchise history, Pittsburgh beats the Braves, 12 – 11, in 12 innings. They lead 9 – 4 entering the bottom of the 9th but their top two relief pitchers, Damaso Marte and Matt Capps, blow the lead with a fly ball falling between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth with two outs. Pittsburgh scores three in the 12th on a Xavier Nady home run, but Atlanta almost ties it again with two runs in the bottom of the frame.

ByTom

In one of the wildest Opening Days in Pittsburgh Pirates franchise history, Pittsburgh beats the Braves, 12 – 11, in 12 innings. They lead 9 – 4 entering the bottom of the 9th but their top two relief pitchers, Damaso Marte and Matt Capps, blow the lead with a fly ball falling between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth with two outs. Pittsburgh scores three in the 12th on a Xavier Nady home run, but Atlanta almost ties it again with two runs in the bottom of the frame.