Opening Day Archives

I'm not sure how many people expected Kip Wells and Kyle Lohse to be the number two starters for the Rockies and Cardinals, but both pitched well tonight. Lohse gave the Cardinals five shutout innings, while Wells allowed one run in 5 1/3. The game is tied at one in the top of the eight, and the Rockies have the bases loaded with one out.

Update: Flores comes in and strikes out the first two batters with the bases loaded, but then walks Nix to drive in the go-ahead run.

Mariano Rivera comes in and retires the Blue Jays in order in the ninth as Joe Girardi wins his first game as manager of the Yankees, 3-2. Both Halladay and Wang pitched well, allowing hits but few walks and few strikeouts. Halladay made a mistake to Cabrera than Melky put in the seats, but Roy's defense let him down on two grounders that could have been double plays.

New York ties Tampa Bay and takes a 1/2 game lead on the Red Sox, who are down one game in the AFILC. :-)

Alex Rodriguez gets off to a good start under his new contract. He hits a two-out double to score Bobby Abreu from first base and put the Yankees up 1-0 in the first. He drove the ball the opposite way between the center and right fielders, giving Bobby plenty of time to get around the bases.

Jim Storer sends along photos from Yankees Stadium.

The New Yankee Stadium:

The retired numbers:

Thanks to Ed Vescovi who provided the tickets!

Sal Paradise attended the opening game in Tokyo and sends this report:

As the Red Sox and Oakland A's have their 'real' opening game today, I would like to share with you their surreal opening game in Japan, and my experiences there.

Since coming to Japan in 2003, I have managed to miss both Red Sox world series. As penance for my sins, I acquired (by whatever means necessary -- in this case a pre-reservation) tickets to the Red Sox vs. Oakland home opener. I got tickets to the first game because fewer people were interested in seeing Josh Beckett pitch -- who is he anyway? -- when Japanese hero Matsuzaka's homecoming was scheduled for game two.

As fate, luck, or spite by the powers that be may have it, Beckett couldn't make the trip pushing Matsuzaka up in the rotation, allowing me to 'enjoy' the pitching of Daisuke '3.5 walks/game' Matsuzaka giving me heart palpitations at my tender age.

The game was scheduled to start at 7pm, and I arrived at 6pm to make sure I had time to get beer and food before the actual game started, and to start the betting pool going on whether they would play the Japanese national anthem before the game. The concessions staff had been coached to do their best with the foreign fans and their English, who helpfully attempted to speak broken English in response to my not-so-broken Japanese, managing to mangle my order in a very efficient manner.

Beer and not-what-I-ordered in hand, we got to watch the pre-game show, which looked something like this:

On the surface, it looks like the traditional Japanese dance that it was advertised as. That is, until the hip-hop dancers came out and did the hip-hop version of the traditional Japanese dance. Standing stoically in the back were the Japan-based Army and 7th fleet bands to make a well-rounded group for entertainment.

Once the dancing subsided, the bands played a rousing American number prior to the national anthem of the US. For the longest time, I was convinced the only American flag in the entire stadium was displayed on the giant screen over the bleachers. If you look above that screen, however, and squint, you can see the American flag.

I then started collecting my winnings as the Japanese national anthem was sung by a very loud Japanese woman. The order should have been reversed, as anyone who has heard the Japanese national anthem can attest, it isn't very conducive to a rousing game of baseball. The Japanese fans had their first American baseball moment as the cheering began to erupt well before the song had actually finished being sung, and the Japanese, being good sports, joined in.

The first pitch was thrown by Lou Mori, a former Japanese prime minister. I'm quite sure his first name was Lou, because he was greeted by the Japanese fans with a loud Lou'ing. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Mori, he was the former Prime Minister who's first words for former President Bill Clinton were -- in his best English -- "Who are you?"

But then it was time to actually play baseball, which is theoretically what we all came to do.

Matsuzaka led off the game with an out, which was tremendous, as I was convinced he would give a walk. The second batter hit the ball out of the park, which reduced the volume of flash bulbs capturing Matsuzaka's brilliance, and caused him to throw so many balls (walk, hit batter, walk) that the fans started cheering a strike -- any strike -- as if it were a strikeout.

Thankfully, Japanese stadiums are wholly civilized and bring beer to you at your seat so that you can medicate yourself against such eventualities with minimal effort.

As the game continued (and my heart continued to be a-flutter with Matsuzaka's pitching), the Red Sox got a chance to bat. It was around this time that my wife noticed the Red Sox were wearing away uniforms while running out of the 1st base side dugout. Strange indeed. The reasoning was clear when Youkilis came up to bat to loud chants of 'Youuuu...' as if it were Boston. The crowd was predominately Matsuzaka fans, with the foreign fans divided 90-10 in favor of the Red Sox.

Matsuzaka settled down in the third inning (finally), and the crowd started to cheer for him. There were two primary problems with this. First was that we had all been handed 'American Cheer Sticks' before the game. In the first photo above, they are the inflated stick-looking things, used to beat against each other to make loud noises while obstructing vision. I had never seen these outside a Japanese Volleyball match, let alone in America, so it was quite telling that 'American Cheer Sticks' was only written in Japanese.

The other problem was that cheering in both the US and Japan tends to be for the team that is batting, barring strikeout, a fine defensive play, etc. As I said before, the Japanese fans were primarily Matsuzaka fans, so the concept of cheering the batters was ignored in favor of cheering the Japanese pitcher in the process of throwing 8.5 walks/game.

Despite my loud protestations (you're cheering for the wrong team!) in Japanese, followed by angry glares from the wife, there's no stopping the mob, so until Matsuzaka was finally yanked, there was no method to the cheering madness.

I'm torn, really. In Japanese games between Japanese teams, there is a cheering section for each team who conduct a full brass band and sing the songs of each individual player on the team (which change every year, written by committee or somesuch). It's a unique aspect to Japanese baseball games, but it gets tiring the 5th time that player comes up to bat. However, at least they're cheering for the right team, and there's no confusion.

I think the cheer sticks were more obnoxious, but I haven't been to a Japanese game yet this year, so it may be a case of the grass being greener...

Once Manny Ramirez put the Red Sox back in the game, Snyder came out while I was using the facilities, allowing me to smugly return to find that he'd given up a two run home run. With the game close, it being Japan, and Timlin on the disabled list, Okajima came in to the game to many cheers and a return to the disjointed cheering that goes along with cheering the pitcher on every pitch instead of the batting team.

The 7th and 8th innings rolled around and it was a good close game. Everybody really started getting into it, and after Okajima left, a cadre of Oakland fans tried to get the crowd to cheer with them for their team. As the fans, for the most part, had no idea who or why they were cheering, the gambit worked and the stadium started feeling like a real game in the states for a while, with a few cheer sticks, and a very uncoordinated 2-deck attempt at the wave.

Much to my wife's chagrin, they played 'take me out to the ballgame,' which she was later disappointed to learn wasn't a part of the television broadcast.

The 9th saw Huston Street allow Brandon Moss (in for J.D. 'Iron Man' Drew) tie the game with a solo shot, and send the game into extra innings. Oakland and Boston fans across Japan groaned, as they were fighting a battle with broadcast time -- Japan does not believe in broadcasting games to the end, and it was already 10pm. My friend watching at home related to me later, "I think they run out of things to say. If I had to hear that Kurt Suzuki is a third-generation Japanese again, I think I was going to scream." It doesn't help that the announcers were mixing up player names and showing more shots of the broadcast booth and dugout than the actual game.

Red Sox fans across Japan cheered when they saw Manny Ramirez's hit allow the go-ahead run to occur before the broadcast cut out on them, and Oakland fans could hold on to a thread of hope that they came back while the cameras were off. It wasn't to be, however, and the game came to a close.

Another peculiarity of Japanese baseball, which they decided to incorporate into this game, is to select the two heroes of the game, and interview them on field. An eloquent Manny Ramirez. A Japanese 2nd-tier hero in Okajima who got credited with the win. All in all, absolutely inaudible because of the people rushing to the exit.

Which is where all great nights must go. We headed into the crowded Japanese subway system to be sandwiched between drunks and subdued Oakland fans, for a well deserved night's sleep.

Thanks for the report, Sal!

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.

Jimmy Rollins doubles to lead off the first for the Phillies. Victorino his a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, and Utley hits a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a 1-0 lead over Washington. I hope Rollins appreciates the sacrifices his teammates make for him!

Aaron Harang just threw the first pitch in the DBacks-Reds game. They've also started play in Cleveland and Baltimore.

Update: Jim Thome greets Sabathia with a two-run homer. Cabrera drew a one-out walk to set up the blast.

The game in underway at Wrigley, but it's tough to see the batter from the centerfield camera due to the fog.

The wind is blowing in at Comerica, but Miguel Cabrera hits a line drive below the jet that clears the fence in left. The solo shot gives the Tigers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Update: Gordon hits a two-run homer off Verlander in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 3-2.

Update: Buck and Teahen single to start the seventh to put runners at first and third for the Royals, and that's all for Verlander. He struck out six and walked just one through 6+ innings. Grilli will try to put out the fire, which must be tough for a guy named after a cooking appliance. :-)

Update: Buck picks up the third single of the inning, tying the game at three.

Update: Grudzielanek reaches for the fourth time in the game, a single that drives in the go-ahead run. Verlander went from an excellent outing to a 4-3 deficit in two innings. We'll see if the Tigers offense can bail him out of the loss.

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium will take place tomorrow, as rain made it impossible to play today.

Gil Meche has been flirting with trouble the whole game, but he just walked Renteria to load the bases with one out in the fourth. The big guns, starting with Polanco, are coming up for the Tigers.

Update: Polanco hits a high, hard line drive right at Jose Guillen in shallow right. I-Rod didn't even think about trying to score on the play. Two out.

Update: Meche walks Sheffield to drive in the Tigers second run. Ordonez gets a chance for his third hit of the day.

Update: Magglio hits the ball hard, but it does as a high fly out to left field. Meche has five strikeouts to go with his four walks through four innings.

The Diamondbacks-Reds game in Cincinnati is in a delay. They hope to start the game a little after 2:30 PM EDT.

Update: The Brewers and Cubs is also delayed.

Carlos Guillen picks up his second hit of the game, but Jose Guillen guns out Magglio Ordonez trying to score after a double. Both Tigers stars from last year each have a double and a single. It's still 1-0 Tigers in the top of the fourth.

Ozzie Guillen wants to play a different team on opening day:

"I'm kind of sick and tired of seeing C.C. on Opening Day," said Guillen, as his team went through a Sunday workout at Progressive Field. "Ev ery time before the season is over, we know who we're going to face the first day next year. Give me an other ballclub so we can see somebody else. Seeing C.C. on the mound every year on the first day is not an easy pitcher to see."

The Indians are 1-1 in Sabathia's two Opening Day starts against Chicago. This is the fourth year in a row and the 27th time overall the two teams have opened the season against each other.

Edgar Renteria pays early dividends as he drives in Carlos Guillen from second with a two out single. Guillen doubled leading off the inning. Detroit leads 1-0 after two.

Update: DeJesus is out of the with what looks like an ankle injury. Verlander retires the side in order in the third, striking out two. He hasn't allowed a hit, and the only base runner reached on a throwing error by Cabrera.

With two out in the bottom of the first, Sheffield walks and Ordonez singles to set up Miguel Cabrera for the possible three-run homer.

Update: Cabrera hits a fly ball deep to centerfield, but it stays in the park. The Royals and Tigers do not score in the first inning.

It's raining in the Bronx and the game there is being delayed. Miss America just sang the National Anthem in Detroit, however, so they should be getting underway soon.

The dramatic ending happens. Ryan Zimmerman hits a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth to win the game for the Nationals 3-2. He hit it in almost the same spot as Chipper Jones. There might be a little jet stream out to left center. It was the first hit for the Nationals since the first inning. A great ending for the Nationals fans.

The Nationals didn't generate much offense in this game, but they were aggressive when they had their opportunities. Nick Johnson taking the extra base in the first inning made a huge difference, as the Nationals probably lose 2-1 without that leg double.

Lots of good pitching in the game on both sides. You expect that from Tim Hudson, but the Nationals will take many more games like this from Odalis Perez.

The Nationals don't score in the bottom of the eighth. Chad Cordero gets a chance to pick up his first save. He'll need to get through the heart of the Braves order, however.

Update: That's what I get for listening to Jon and Joe. Jon Rauch comes in to start the ninth. Chipper hits a line drive right back at him for the first out.

Update: Teixeira doubles off the video screen in right. I wonder if Cordero injured himself warming up?

Update: According to Gammons, Cordero felt stiffness warming up. Rauch gets Francoeur to ground to second, advancing Teixeira to third. Then a pitch gets away and Teixeira scores from third, tying the game. It's a passed ball.

Update: That's all the Braves get. Rauch gets the first blow save in the new park. On the bright, the Nats get the chance for a dramatic walk off victory.

If Tim Hudson had started in the second inning, he'd be pitching a perfect game right now. Since Kearns singled in the first, Hudson retired the last 19 batters. He's losing 2-1, so he may be lifted for a pinch hitter, unless the leadoff man gets on and Sox elects to bunt.

Update: Kotsay flies out, and Brian Pena pinch hits. Hudson leaves the game after 78 pitches, 55 for strikes. He pitched well enough to win, but he needs the Braves to pick up two or more runs in this half inning for that to happen.

Odalis Perez comes out after five innings and sixty nine pitches. He allowed just one run on the Jones homer. He struck out two in the first inning, but that was it. Still, the Nationals have to be very happy with the one walk, four hit performance. If they can hold the lead, Perez can earn an opening day victory.

Saul Rivera pitches a perfect sixth to help that outcome become reality.

Chipper Jones delivers the first home run at the new park, hitting a rope into left-centerfield. The Washington lead is cut to 2-1 in the top of the fourth.

Denyce Graves does an absolutely beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to open the new stadium in Washington.

Big League Stew breaks down the opening day starters in five categories, from The Franchises to The Forgettable.

Thank goodness I have the HD package.

Nice photo of Jacoby Ellsbury's catch at the Projo SoxBlog.

I go take a shower, and the Red Sox score two runs. With Lugo and Ortiz on Manny hits his second two-run double of the game, giving Boston a 6-4 lead. It was a blast off the centerfield wall. It looks like Manny's winter regimen is paying off. That's all the Red Sox get as they go to the bottom of the tenth with Papelbon coming on.

Update: Barton battles Papelbon to a 3-2 count then draws a walk to start the inning.

Update: The A's have drawn seven walks in this game, but only one of those runners came around to score.

Update: Cust strikes out swinging. After being hit in the first, Cust goes 0 for 4 with 4 K.

Brown hits a double to right center that drives in Barton, but then gets caught in a run down between second and third. He throught the throw was going through, but it gets cut off and Brown is out. Once again, the A's hurt themselves with a base running blunder as Crosby lines a single to center that would have tied the game.

Update: Hannahan lines a single to left to put runners on 1st and 2nd with two out. Papelbon is looking extremely hittable in this inning.

Update: Suzuki grounds out to Youkilis to end the game.

The Red Sox did not pitch pretty in this game, but timely hitting by the Red Sox and a base running blunder by the A's give Boston the victory, 6-5. The crowd is happy as Okajima gets the win.

Huston Street comes on to try to earn a save for the Athletics in the ninth.

Update: Lowell flies out to shallow center for the first out.

Update: Who needs Drew? Moss homers just over the wall down the line in rightfield to tie the game at four. Both teams blow saves in this game.

Update: Varitek strikes out for the third time in the game.

Update: Ellsbury lines out to end the inning. Okajima starts the bottom of the inning to the biggest ovation of the game.

Update: Okajima starts off with a strikeout of Suzuki.

Update: Mike Sweeney pinch hits for Ryan Sweeney and draws a walk. No one sings The Trolley Song.

Update: Jeff Fiorentino pinch runs for Sweeney.

Update: Buck flies out to deep center, Fiorentino fails to tag.

Update: Ellis bounces back to the mound to end the inning. The Japanese fans get bonus innings.

Keith Foulke returns to the majors as he starts the eighth inning for the Oakland Athletics.

Update: Youkilis and Ortiz hit the ball hard and deep, but they stay in the park for outs. It's Manny's turn.

Update: Manny swings and misses at two splitters, then takes strike three looking on the outside corner. Foulke is off to a good start in 2008.

Kyle Snyder relieves Matsuzaka to start the sixth and gives up a single to Crosby to start the frame. Hannahan follows with a home run to take back the lead! Hannahan is known for his ability to get on base, not for his power. That's the second home run of the game for Oakland, neither by one of their power hitters.

Update: That's all the A's get. Now we'll see if the bullpen can hold that lead for three innings.

Update: Embree gives up a hit in the seventh, but induces a Lugo double play and gets out of the seventh facing the minimum. Time to stretch.

Dustin Pedroia gets the Red Sox off to a good start in the sixth with a double over the head of Travis Buck. It's a ball Buck could have caught against the wall if he timed it better.

Update: Blanton walks Youkilis, his first of the night. He throws the first pitch to Ortiz in the dirt as well. Joe's in a dangerous situation here.

Update: Blanton falls behind Ortiz 2-0, but comes back to get David to pop out foul on a 3-2 pitch. Manny, however, follows with a double down the third base line to drive in two runs and tie the game.

Update: Lowell strikes out swinging for the second out, but Moss singles to right, driving in Manny. Buck makes a mistake, overthrowing the cut off man to put Moss at second.

Update: That's it for Blanton. He threw 93 pitches, 58 for strikes, and it looks like he went one inning too long. The A's inability to take full advantage of Dice-K's wildness early on cost him a win here.

Update: Embree is on in relief.

Update: Embree strikes out Varitek to end the inning. We'll see if Dice-K comes out for the bottom of the sixth.

Blanton and Matsuzaka continue retiring batters in the fifth. No one has reached base since the third inning. Dice-K fans two batters in the fifth to bring his strikeout total for the game to five.

The A's offense is demonstrating both their strength and weakness in this game. They're good at drawing walks, but poor at getting the hits to drive those runners around.

Blanton retires the Red Sox 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth, the first 1-2-3 inning of the season. Joe allowed four hits so far, but no walks, and all the hits went for singles. With one strikeout today, he's letting his defense help him.

Update: Matsuzaka answers with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. He's over 80 pitches now, however. I'm sure he feels he can go longer, but I wonder if Francona feels the same way.

Matsuzaka gets two easy outs, then issues his fifth walk of the game. Suzuki hits a hard liner that Lugo catches with a leap to end the inning. Matsuzaka is up to 75 pitches, 38 for strikes.

With two outs and Lugo on first, Youkilis rolls one down the third base line. Hannahan makes a diving stop to prevent an extra base hit, and just misses getting Kevin at first base. That brings up Ortiz with two on and two out.

Update: Ortiz hits a hard liner to the edge of the outfield, but Ellis is shifted and picks the ball up on one hop for the third out. Blanton worked harder in that inning, but is still under 40 pitches for the game.

Matsuzaka issues his third walk of the game with two out in the second. Suzuki led off the inning with a single, and a stolen base later he's at second with Ellis at first.

Billy Beane should be proud of the A's process in this game. They're very selective today, and have taken a number of close pitches for balls.

Barton walks for the second time in the game to load the bases, and that brings the pitching coach to the mound.

Update: Daisuke catches Cust looking to end the inning. Still, it's another 30 pitch inning for Matsuzaka, bringing