Homerun fireworks highlight opening day

LOS ANGELES – There were walk-off homers, back-to-back dingers, heartbreaking double plays, hand-warmers and long-sleeve shirts as a dozen Major League Baseball teams suited up for opening day on Thursday.

Ramon Hernandez provided the early fireworks, hitting a two-out three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Cincinnati Reds rallied past the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6.

The World Series champion San Francisco Giants got their defense off to an inauspicious start, losing 2-1 to their National League rival Los Angeles Dodgers in night match.

There were six openers, comprising games in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas City. The rest of the teams were scheduled to open on Friday, including the Cleveland Indians who had to clear 15 centimetres (six inches) of snow off their field which fell Wednesday night.
One of the constant themes in American ballparks this year is collection boxes set up at stadiums for donations to the relief efforts in Japan after the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

At St. Louis, six Cardinals Hall of Famers were introduced during the annual parade lap around the warning track at Busch Stadium, including 90-year-old Stan Musial.

In New York, strong winds buffeted Yankee Stadium, forcing some fans to move up onto the concourses or under overhangs for cover.
Some of the best opening-day drama took place in Cincinnati where the Reds looked down and out against the Brewers before rallying for a big finish.
“I’ve played 12 years, and this is the most amazing opening day,” said Hernandez. “To get that type of win is great, and to do it on a day like today gets people even more excited. It’s amazing.”

Milwaukee became the first team in 42 years to open the season with back-to-back homers when Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez connected off Edinson Volquez. Ryan Braun also had a solo shot, helping Milwaukee take a 6-3 lead to the ninth.

The Reds began the new season with only the second game-ending homer in Cincinnati opening-day history. In 2005, Joe Randa beat the New York Mets in similar fashion.

“I’ve never seen an opening day like that,” said Dusty Baker, who won his first opener in four years as the Reds manager. “I’ve seen a guy hit a homer to start the game, but I’ve never seen the first two guys hit homers.

“That was about as dramatic a finish as you can have, especially ending the season the way we did last year and then starting it the same way this year.”
In New York, Curtis Granderson hit a go-ahead homer leading off the seventh inning and Mark Teixeira belted a three-run shot off Justin Verlander, lifting New York over the Detroit Tigers 6-3.

“It was great – except for the weather,” said Granderson.

C.C. Sabathia pitched six strong innings, Derek Jeter added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and closing pitcher Mariano Rivera posted his first save and 560th of his career.

“Their bullpen and the long ball is what did us in today,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “I thought it was actually a decent game for the conditions. It was pretty rough.”

In St. Louis, Cameron Maybin tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning and grounded a single that led to the go-ahead run in the 11th as the San Diego Padres opened with a 5-3 win over the Cardinals.

Cardinals star Albert Pujols grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going zero-for-five. The three-time NL most valuable player cut off contract negotiations at the start of spring training and could be a free agent this fall.