Friday, April 1, 2011

Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Offbasepercentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Today's honorary bat boy is Tuffy Rhodes.




Yankees 6, Tigers 3. A few days ago, it looked like Curtis Granderson would miss the start of the season with an oblique injury. Instead, Granderson opened 2011 by hitting a go-ahead home run and making two great catches in center field to lead New York. Mark Teixiera, who usually refuses to do anything on a baseball field until May (religious) crushed a three-run home run and the bullpen quartet of Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, Mariano Rivera and the man living underneath Joba Chamberlain's jersey dominated, pitching three perfect innings.

Angels 4, Royals 2. Kansas City made three errors and fell into the AL Central cellar, where they're expected to stay until late-September. Jered Weaver allowed two singles to Melky Cabrera and that was it in 6 1/3 innings.

Padres 5, Cardinals 3 (11). St. Louis led 3-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth and things were looking good on Gerald Laird bobblehead day. But then Cameron Maybin happened. The new Padres outfielder crushed a solo home run off Bryan Augenstein to tie the game, then San Diego scored the go-ahead run in the 11th when new second baseman Ryan Theriot couldn't handle a low relay throw and his throw home was dropped by Yadier Molina. Albert Pujols grounded into three double plays, a Major League record for opening day, proving the Cardinals were right to not pay that bum in the off-season.

Reds 7, Brewers 6. Milwaukee led 6-3 thanks to home runs by Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun, but gave it all back in the ninth. John Axford, who quietly had a solid 2010 in the Milwaukee pen, provided his best Greg Cadaret impersonation, allowing four runs, including Ramon Hernandez's opposite field, three-run walk-off in the defending Central champs' win.

Braves 2, Nationals 0. Brandon Hicks: DNP.

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