Jake Peavy doesn’t need much help from the rest of the Padres tonight. He’s pitched five shutout innings so far tonight, and driven in both the San Diego runs with a sacrifice fly and a single. He’s continuing his hot hitting from 2007 in which he hit .233 with five extra-base hits.

Nate McLouth just extended a 5-4 Pirates lead over the Braves to an 8-4 lead with a three run home run in the top of the eighth. With the score tied at four, Nady led off the inning with a home off Acosta. He put two more on before Nate delivered the big insurance blow. Acosta only allowed two home runs in the 23 2/3 inning he pitched in 2007.
Update: The Pirates pitchers can’t find the plate in the ninth inning. Marte walked two while recording an out, the Capps comes in and walks two to bring the tying run to the plate. The Pirates lead 9-5 and need two outs to secure the victory.
Update: Chipper singles in two bringing up Mark Teixeira.
Update: Teixeira flys out to shallow center. It’s up to McCann.
Update: OMG! McCann hits a high fly ball to shallow left center, and neither Bay nor McLouth tries to catch it. I assume each thought the other was going to take it. Chipper Jones is running all the way from first and scores the tying run. The teams are going to the tenth as the Braves score five in the bottom of the ninth. I guess not much has changed in Pittsburgh.
Update: Nady homers in the twelvth inning to put the Pirates up 12-9. It’s his second home run of the game. I wonder if the Pirates can hold the lead this time.
Update: It’s happening again. Francoeur hit a solo home run. Kotsay doubled. Diaz singled in Kotsay. The Braves have a man on first with two out, trailing by one run.
Update: Corky Miller flies out the center to end the game and the Pirates get what can only be called one of the ugliest wins I’ve ever seen. Atlanta is now 0-2 in one run games. Twice they rallied late in the game to tie, only to lose. That’s a tough way to start the season.

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 8th, Adam Everett just missed a grand slam home run by a few feet as the ball goes into the stands just a few feet from the foul pole. He flies out to end the inning as O’Day pitches into and out of trouble. The Angels are coming up in the top of the ninth trailing 3-2.
Update: Nathan gives up an infield hit, but that’s it as he gets the save and the Angels go down 3-2. Livan Hernandez used his defense tonight, striking out one and walking none. He allowed seven hits, five of them singles, as he gave the Twins seven solid innings. It’s good to see he’s bought into the no walk philosophy of the team.

Kazuo Fukumori is making his major league debut in the bottom of the seventh inning vs. the Mariners. He’s walked his two Japanese counterparts, Ichiro and Johjima, but he’s also thrown two wild pitches as Laird seemed fooled a couple of times. Lopez just doubled in two runs to make the score 5-1 Seattle. Not the best debut for the Rangers reliever. Fukumori threw 21 pitches, only 9 for strikes.

With men on first and third, one out and the score tied at one, Adrian Beltre grounded to Blalock at third. Hank tried to go around the horn, but Beltre hustled down the line and beat the relay throw by Kinsler. That hustle made drives in a run and gives the Mariners a 2-1 lead.

Just like in Cleveland last year, the Mariners are seeing snow during their opener. However, with a roof, they solid precipitation isn’t bothering them. Bedard has allowed just one run through five innings on a first inning homer by Michael Young, but the Rangers worked the counts as Erik is already over 100 pitches. Millwood, on the other hand, is being very efficient as he’s thrown 57 pitches through four innings and takes a shutout into the bottom of the fifth. He’s struck out three and walked one.

The Rockies and Cardinals ended up in a rain out. None of the walks, home runs or RBI count, which has to make Jeff Francis happy but leaves Albert Pujols still 18 home runs from 300.

Joe Torre’s Dodgers career gets off to a good start as his squad shuts out the hapless Giants 5-0. San Francisco managed five hits and three walks in the game, but none of the hits were for extra bases. Three of those base runners were removed, however, with two caught stealings and a double play.
Zito disappointed again, giving up eight hits during his five innings. He only struck out one, and the Dodgers were 8 for 21 on balls in play against Barry, .381. I’m afraid this game is just an example of things to come for the Giants.
On a nostalgic note, Scott Proctor got in the game for the Dodgers, threw six pitches, five of them for balls, walking one and recording one out. That will take take Yankees fans down memory lane.

Johan Santana and the Mets offense appear to be in sync. The Mets scored six runs for Johan, and he allowed just two over seven innings. Both runs came on the first he allowed, a home run to Josh Willingham. He gave up three hits while walking two and striking out eight. That’s pretty much what the Mets expect from their multi-million dollar investment. The Mets lead 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth.

Kerry Wood comes in to try to preserve a 0-0 tie in the top of the ninth. He hits weeks with his first pitch, then after a sacrifice by Gwynn, he intentionally walks Fielder. Braun then singles in the first run of the game, and with two out Hart triples in two more. Now the new Brewers closer Eric Gagne gets a chance for a save.
Update: Wow. I eat dinner, come back to the game and it’s tied at three. Fukudome certainly did Gagne as he hits a three run homer off the closer to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Brewers just picked up a run in the top of the tenth to take the lead 4-3.
Update: Riske comes on and retires the Cubs in the 10th to earn the save. I guess Riske isn’t as risky as Gagne!

The Diamondbacks start the defense of their NL West crown with a 4-2 victory over the Reds. Both Webb and Harang allowed just three hits over six innings. Aaron gave up two more home runs while Brandon gave up two more walks. Both K’d six. But an unearned bought Harang a loss instead of leaving with a 2-2 tie.
The Diamondbacks pen pitched three perfect innings, striking out four along the way.

The Tampa Bay Rays spoiled the Orioles opening day with a 6-2 victory. They banged out ten hits, doing a good job of putting the ball in play. They only struck out three times in the game after whiffing the most in the AL by 100 last year. We’ll see if this keeps up over the season.

Johan Santana retires the first nine Marlins he faces. He’s just thrown 33 pitches while striking out two.

Albert Pujols makes up for not contributing in the first inning by hitting a solo home run in the second. He needs 17 more to reach 300, eight years into his major leauge career.

Ben Sheets and Carlos Zambrano are matching one-hitters through five innings. Sheets walked two and struck out seven. Zambrano struck out four with one walk. Fukudome doubled in his first at bat for the Cubs.

Lastings Milledge hits his first home run for the Nationals, a two-run shot that extends the Nationals lead over the Phillies to 6-2. Utley leads off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to cut the lead to 6-3.

Soria comes in earns the save, although he allowed a double, but Leyland gives away an out with a sacrifice by Inge. Renteria strikes out, however, leaving Polanco to ground out to end the game. It’s a nice way for Trey Hillman to start his MLB managerial career.

Johan Santana takes the mound in the bottom of the first for the Mets. New York failed to score in the top of the inning. He gets ahead of Hanley Ramirez 1-2. Ramirez looked fooled on his first two swings.
Update: Johan puts an off-speed pitch on the inside corner and Hanley strikes out looking. He walks back to the dugout shaking his head. Uggla flies to right for the second out.
Update: Jacobs pops out to third to end the first. Santana throws eight pitches in the first, six for strikes.

With a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Jeff Francis walks three of the first four Cardinals he faces. The only out came off the bat of Albert Pujols. He’s facing Ankiel with the bases loaded.
Update: Ankiel doubles down the first base line to drive in two. He’s now 2 for 5 in his career with the bases loaded with a homer and a double.

Dave Roberts starts the Giants season right with a single, but then wastes the opportunity by getting thrown out stealing. The Giants can’t afford to give away outs this season.

With a runner on second, Buck singles to Inge in center who guns down the Teahen at the plate, preserving the 4-4 tie. The strong arm of the third baseman works well in the outfield.
Update: Tony Pena just gets the bat on the ball and dumps a single into centerfield, and with two out John Buck scores from second. The Royals take a 5-4 lead.

The Royals and Tigers go to the eleventh tied at four. That’s two opening day games going extra frames, and we almost had another last night.

With a 1-0 lead in the third, Young and Byrnes hit solo home runs for the Diamondbacks. Young hit 21 from the leadoff slot last season, sixth in the majors.

Carlos Guillen leads off the eighth for the Tigers with a home run, tying the game at four. He now has three quarters of the cycle, needing the triple.

The Indians pick up three singles and a run off Buehrle in the second to bring Franklin Gutierrez to the plate. The twenty-five year old delivers his first home run of the season to put Cleveland on top 4-2. Twenty eight of his seventy two hits went for extra bases last year, giving him a nice .206 isolated power.
Sizemore follows with a solo shot, and the Indians are just bombing Buehrle in the second. Buehrle cuts his home runs allowed from 36 to 22 last year, but he’s off to a bad start today.

Kevin Millar doubles in two runs against James Shields to put the Orioles up 2-0 in the first inning of their home opener. Millar hit 26 doubles in each of the last two seasons, and 28 the year before. At least he’s consistent.