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American League
The Chicago White Sox opened their 2010 campaign in sharp fashion, getting 7 scoreless innings from starter Mark Buehrle while putting up 6 runs against division rival Cleveland for the 6-0 win in their home opener.
Buehrle was in command from the get-go, limiting the Indians to just three hits, walking one and fanning three. Buehrle, who was 13-10 last season with the Sox, threw 95 pitches, 63 of them for strikes. Reliever J.J. Putz worked the 8th and Matt Thornton mopped up with a hitless 9th.
The White Sox are seeking to return to the top of the AL Central, a position they held at the end of the 2008 season, but failed to repeat in 2009.Save big on collectible magazines at Mostly Magazines
National League
After losing the World Series to the Yankees last season, one thing the Phillies needed to do was replace Pedro Feliz at third base with a more consistent - and potent - bat, so they shopped around and plucked Placido Polanco from the Tigers, an infielder who can play second or third base and a career .303 batting average.
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Polanco made an immediate impact in Monday's opener at Washington, going 3-for-5 with 6 RBI, 4 of which came on a 7th inning grand slam that put away the lowly Nationals by an 11-1 score. His 2 other RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the Phillies' 5-run 4th and a run-scoring single in the 6th.
Roy Halladay picked up the win, his first for the Phillies and first career NL victory.
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Torii Hunter smacked a fifth inning grand slam off Seattle starter Jeff Weaver en route to an 11-2 win for the visiting Twins. Hunter added a double in a 2-4 performance while catcher Joe Mauer belted out 3 doubles, scored twice and drove in 3 runs in 4 at-bats. Ramon Ortiz allowed the Mariners' only 2 runs of the game, working 7 innings for his 3rd win with no losses.
Weaver, who lasted only 2 innings in his first start of the season, managed to hang in for 6 innings, though the results were hardly encouraging. While Weaver actually cut his ERA nearly in half, from 30.50 to 15.75, he was touched by the Twins for 10 hits and 7 runs, all earned. Hard to believe this is the same guy who pitched 8 innings in the championship-clinching 5th game of the World Series last season, but it is. Weaver was traded by the Cardinals to the Mariners in the off-season. Message to Jeff: less surfing, dude; more pitching.
National League
Moises Alou backed Tom Glavine's 6 strong innings with a pair of home runs, pacing the Mets to an 8-1 pasting of the Phillies. Alou's dingers were his first in a Mets uniform and came with one on in the 2nd and the bases empty in the 6th. Glavine, meanwhile, scattered 6 hits and 1 earned run, improving to 3-1 on the year. Jose Reyes boosted his league lead in stolen bases to 8 with a pair of thefts.
Ryan Freel went 4-5, scored 3 times and drove in a run as the Reds took back first place from the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, 11-5.
Alex Rodriguez continued to scorch opposing pitchers last night with a 2-run homer and an RBI single to lead the Yankees to a 10-3 win over the visiting Indians. The Bombers blew up Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook (0-2), roughing him up for 8 hits and 8 earned runs in just 1 2/3rd innings, including 3 home runs.