Opening Day notes

Carolina shot off to the best start, winning both of their games against Philadelphia. Roy Halladay shut out the Animals in game one, allowing only 5 hits and 3 walks in a complete game, striking out 9. Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam in the 3rd inning to give the Cats the lead. In game 2, the Animals got on the board, but the Cats still won 7-2. This time it was Dice-K Matsuzaka striking out 9 Animals in 8 innings. Aramis Ramirez hit another home run in the game, though it was only a 2-run shot this time. Carlos Delgado added two solo homers in the game.

Marietta only played one game, but they rank amongst the undefeated teams so far with a 4-3 win over the Hitmen. The Hitmen jumped ahead early in the game with a Russ Martin RBI single in the second, but Marietta tied it up in the late innings, then took the lead in the 8th on an Adrian Beltre double. Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer in the ninth to give the Hitmen a 3-2 lead, but B.J. Ryan could not hold the lead. Pinch hitting for Jason Bay, fan favorite Nick Punto lined a base hit that scored two runs, winning the game for Marietta.

Another undefeated team is New Jersey after taking a 6-3 decision against Sardine City. Edinson Volquez won his first DMBL game. Alfonso Soriano gave the Buddahs the lead in the first with a grand slam off starter Cole Hamels. Reliever Jimmy Johnson settled in nicely for Hamels in the 4th, pitching 5.1 innings of no-hit ball, walking one and striking out 3.

The last undefeated team is Las Vegas, who spoiled the Amityville Ant Slayers' first game with a 5-1 victory. Rich Harden returned from the dead to earn the win after pitching a solid 6 innings. Jeff Keppinger went 3-4 with an RBI to lead the team.

Dice-K loses no-no bid in ninth

Daisuke Matsuzake came up just short of a no-hitter against the Bushslappers yesterday. In fact he held D.C. to only one hit after all was said and done. And he still lost. That's because the one hit was a solo home run by Adrian Beltre to lead off the ninth. Oh yeah, D.C.'s Shawn Marcum was also busy holding the Sardines to only five hits in 8.1 shutout innings. Dice-K also struck out nine and gave up one walk, while falling to 1-4 on the season.

Carolina unleashed their fury on the Plunkers yesterday to the tune of a 17-3 thrashing. Ryan Garko, freshly rested after his recent injury, was 4-5 with 5 RBIS and Grady Sizemore was also 4-5. Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Francoeur each had 3 RBIs. Amazingly, the Mudcats only hit one home run, by Johnny Estrada, who was subbing in for the injured Mike Redmond. The Cats ended up with 19 total hits.

Marietta ended Hillsborough's six-game winning streak yesterday with a 2-0 blanking by John Lester. Lester pitched a complete game 2-hitter, walking two and striking out one. Like Sardine City, Hillsborough's John Lackey pitched well in defeat (8 IP, 2 ER, 5 H), but it wasn't enough. Casey Kotchmann drove in both runs for Marietta on a solo homer and an RBI single.

Dicey deal

Las Vegas is busy on the trading block. This time the Rats surrendered highly-touted pitching prospect Daisuke Matsuzaka to Sardine City in return for their second round pick that they traded to the Straphangers earlier this year. Sardine City sent Cameron Maybin packing to make room for Dice-K on the farm team. Interestingly the trade was made while the two teams were playing each other on the field. Sardine City beat the snot out of starter Oliver Perez, who could only record one out while surrendering seven earned runs on five hits and three walks.

Greg Maddux was hanging on to a 4-3 lead against the Falcons when it all unraveled in the eighth. Maddux started off by giving up a hit to Lance Berkman, then walking Justin Morneau. Barry Bonds then launched his fourth homer in the last three games, giving the Falcons a 6-4 lead. Bob Wickman held down the fort in the ninth for his sixth save and 100th career save. Wickman became just the tenth player all-time to reach the mark.

Honolulu and Marietta began the first of their key divisional series. Marietta came back from a 7-3 deficit to tie the game up at seven with a four-run seventh inning, only to watch Honolulu grab the lead back after a Jason Giambi solo shot. Tom Gordon, who squeaked out of a jam in the eighth, could not hold it together for another inning. After giving up a leadoff double to Todd Helton, Gordon walked the next four batters, including walking in the tying and winning runs! Derek Jeter with the...um...walk-off walk? Did Gary Carter fall asleep in the dugout?
John Smoltz won his 150th career victory yesterday against Team Buddah. Smoltz held the Buddahs to one run on six hits over eight innings. Smoltz also struck out five.

New Did You Know? coming later tonight.