Almost too much action packed in one day: not only baseball's first full swell of games in the official Opening Day for 26 teams but nearly lost in the shuffle was the NCAA Basketball Finals.
Piazza upstages Barry Bonds and shocks former Mets supporters.
Winners:
AL
(Coco Crisp makes a leaping grab to rob Laynce Nix of an extra-base hit in the ninth. (Globe Staff Photo / Matthew J. Lee)
1. Red Sox- good news for Sox: Curt Schilling's line against the Texas Rangers--7 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO. Among those in the crowd was 43-year-old recruit Roger Clemens, who sat with Rangers owner Tom Hicks as part of the first official visit of his free agent tour. Will this tour last longer than Clemens' famed Quest for 300 Tour?
2. Orioles - Orioles CF Luis Matos became the first player in team history to hit a HR on back to back Opening Days since Frank Robinson, in 1969-70.
3. Tigers - Tigers P Kenny Rogers's line--6 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 SO.
4. Angels - Who cares? Eff the Angels and their multi-city name.
5. Yankees - Zito is 0-6 with a 7.94 ERA in his last eight starts against the Yankees.
Only real suprise was the O's winning their first game of the season.
NL
1. Mets - full game details at Archie Bunker's Army. More good news, the line on the Braves bullpen last night: 5 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 2 Ks.
2. Brewers- Brewers' first season opener at home since 1995.
3. Cubs - The Cubs have played the Reds more than any other team in season openers, going 17-15 and winning nine of 12.
4. Cardinals -Albert Pujols hit 2 HR (2 BB), 2B Aaron Miles had 4 hits (2 2B, 1 3B) and 3B Scott Rolen had 3 hits (1 HR) against his former teammates in Philly.
5. Rockies- this'll never happen again: Rockies P Jason Jennings's line--7 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 SO.
6. Braves- The Scumsuckers have a 1,432-931 record since the start of the 1991 season - the best in baseball.
7. Padres - Piazza tied Dale Murphy for 43rd place on the all time HR list, with 398. Meanwhile, a syringe was thrown at Bonds.
8. Astros- Roy Oswalt (8 IP, 5 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 SO) combined with Brad Lidge for a shutout.
*****
Everyone's least favourite President, the famed Mr Bush, visited Wrigley Field for the Cubs Opening Day. The only snafu from the presidential visit occurred beforehand. Manager Dusty Baker and relief pitcher Bob Howry had knives taken from their bags at Great American Ball Park as security tightened for the visit from the president.
"It's the first time they took it at the ballpark," Baker said. "They've taken it at the airport when I forget [it was in the bag]."
Asked why he had a knife, Baker said: "It's a pocketknife that you use for stuff— cutting apples, doing whatever, tighten a screw or cut some tape off a box, cutting string, anything."
Yeah, tighten screws. Cubs manager's job.
*****
Phillies Rollins keeps streak alive, tied for eighth-longest in baseball history, the longest in the majors since Hall of Famer Paul Molitor hit in 39 straight for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987, 19 short of matching Joe DiMaggio's all-time mark of 56....He extended his hitting streak to 37 games with a double off reliever Adam Wainwright with two out and a 3-0 count in the eighth inning in a massive loss by the Phillies.
*****
Of course, the Florida Gators are National Champions after defeating the UCLA Bruins by a 75-57 score. Forwards Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford combined for 41 points, 23 rebounds and nine blocks. Not counted in the stat sheet is the complete intimidation they put on the Bruins. For his 16 points, nine rebounds and six rejections, Noah was named the tournament's most outstanding player. His 29 blocks for the tourney set a record.
Not that many noticed.
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