Opening Day Game Recaps

Game of the Day

Detroit Tigers 3, Boston Red Sox 2

As Red Sox fans clamor for Daniel Bard to replace Alfredo Aceves at closer after one day, Tigers fans sigh in relief after their own closer, Jose Valverde, lost perfection without losing the game for Detroit.

Justin Verlander was immaculate in his season debut, as he struck out seven batters in eight scoreless innings of two-hit baseball. The reigning AL Cy Young winner allowed just one walk, and this came after downing three crunchwrap supremes (no tomato) and more from Taco Bell; his 1,500+ calorie, pre-game tradition. Hey, whatever works. In a Facebook poll, fans voted him as the best pitcher in the game over Roy Halladay. For the record, I picked Doc.

Over on the other side, Jon Lester pitched well for the Boston Red Sox, allowing just one run in seven innings. The offensive star of the night was Austin Jackson, who went 3-5 with a triple and an RBI. Jhonny Peralta also went 3-5 for the Tigers, as they scored a run in the bottom of the ninth after blowing a 2-0 lead in the top of the final frame. It was a terrific way to start out Opening Day for baseball fans.

Blue Jays 7, Indians 4

The longest Opening Day game in history came to a conclusion after 16 innings, thanks to a three-run shot from J.P. Arencibia, who could be on the trade block soon with Travis d’Arnuad looming in the background. Either of them could go, but Arencibia showed potential suitors- and the Blue Jays- that he has some big power.

“For some reason, I thought I got the bunt sign,” Arencibia said. “That got me in two strikes. Then I was just trying to hit the ball. I happened to hit it hard and got it out of the park.”

Justin Masterson was great in the losing effort, as he struck out ten in eight innings of work while allowing just one run and two hits. Arencibia, by the way, went 1-7; but it’s the “1” that counts.

Nationals 2, Cubs 1

One game. One inning. One hit. One save. Brad Lidge is the new closer in the capital, and he showed off his stuff by striking out two in his first appearance with the club to notch a save in a 2-1 game. Washington notched a run in the eighth and ninth innings to trump the Cubbies, and nobody thinks they will make the playoffs.

Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Dempster were locked in a great pitching duel, with Strasburg emerging the victor despite getting outpitched. Both were great, with Strasburg allowing just five hits and a run in seven innings, and Dempster mowing down ten batters in 7.2 with just two hits and three walks allowed. Ian Desmond finished 3-5 for the Nats with some clutch plays, while Ian Stewart (triple) had the only extra base hit for the Cubs.

Mets 1, Braves 0

How do you like Santana? In five innings of work, the injury-prone ace didn’t allow a run and only allowed two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. For the Braves, the newly minted Tyler Pastornicky showed off his hitting by knocking a triple, but the best hitter than night was David Wright. The subject of trade rumors for speedy outfielder Peter Bourjos, the much-talked about third baseman delivered a 3-5 performance and knocked in Andres Torres for the only run of the game. Torres, by the way, left the game with a left calf strain. No shock there, as the new CF always struggled with injuries. Torres scored and walked, and his replacement Scott Hairston singled in his only PA.

Phillies 1, Pirates 0

Nothing like a good Pennsylvania rivalry to get things going in the NL on Opening Day. Another great, low-scoring game was completed, with Roy Halladay besting Verlander. Yeah, the snubbed NL Cy Young winner (OK, not really snubbed but still) tossed eight innings of two-hit ball without allowing a run or a walk. He struck out just five batters, but he didn’t need to in a .572 WPA game.

You know that Erik Bedard guy? The guy who is really good when he’s actually healthy? He ended up with seven innings of quality, one-run ball under his belt as the ace of the Pirates. The last time he was a number one starter was when he was last relevant as a great pitcher; in Baltimore. Here’s to hoping for a 3+ WAR season from my favorite southpaw. By the way, Jonathan Papelbon got the save. Just thought that sentence alone would make Phillies fans even more happy, and Red Sox fans a little more upset.

Reds 4, Marlins 0

Aroldis Chapman and underrated closer (seriously, why are people “concerned”?) Sean Marshall struck out two batters each in one inning of work. Starter Johnny Cueto led the Reds with seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball to outduel Mark Buehrle. The Reds finished with ten hits, with my NL Rookie of the Year Zack Cozart going 2-4 with a double and a run, and Jay Bruce had a monstrous 440 foot shot to center in the eight inning in front of a full ballpark of almost 43,000 people in Cincinnati.

Dodgers 5, Padres 3

Although he struck out seven hitters, Edinson Volquez‘s notorious problems with walks came to the fore-front in an opening day loss for the Padres. Check out www.ChickenFriars.com for more on the Padres, including an upcoming article by our very own Justin Hunter on Volquez’s game.

We were robbed of some more vintage Clayton Kershaw, because he had to leave the game early on with a stomach illness after striking out three in three innings while giving up just two hits. The man with the new extension, Cameron Maybin, knocked out a 437 foot dinger in the eigth to bring the Padres within two and gives us what would be the final score.

In the top of that inning, Matt Kemp was the won who made it 5-1 Dodgers with a two-run home run, and the Dodgers would have surely lost without Kemp’s heroics. The robbed MVP (it’s not about steroids, he was better overall) also received a big extension after a breakout year, and the CF finished 2-5 with three steaks and two runs. Kemp’s home run took them from three to five runs, so Maybin’s shot would have tied it if Kemp didn’t go yard.

Be sure to check out all of Call to the Pen’s transaction breakdowns for the 2011-12 offseason. You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.

Follow Joe Soriano on Twitter here.

Home/MLB News