The first big-league game at Fenway Park wasn't played until April 20,1912, but Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the first game, when the Red Sox beat Harvard 2-0 in an exhibition. The Red Sox were scheduled to open the game on April 17, but it was postponed three times because of rain.
3 UP
Mike DiMuro, umpire. I'm not sure there's a tougher job in sports than the one of a big-league umpire. I also believe the umpires today are as good as they've ever been, if not better, at getting the calls right -- it's just that now every game is broadcast in HD and it's easier than ever to pick out a mistake in 1080p and super slo-mo. We'd get on DiMuro if he was wrong on Sunday, but he wasn't, so how about some credit? DiMuro made the difficult -- and correct -- call that Buster Posey had never touched the plate in force out at home on a throw home from third baseman Pablo Sandoval, allowing Aaron Hill to score the eventual winning run in Arizona's 7-6 victory over the Giants.
Carlos Santana, Indians. On his 26th birthday, the Indians catcher hit two home runs and drove in three to help lead Cleveland to a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays. (The Reds' Jay Bruce also had two homers, but it wasn't his birthday.) It was Santana's second career multihomer game -- and in his last four birthdays (including two in the minors), Santana is 10 for 17 with five homers and 13 RBI.
Prince Fielder, Tigers. Alex Avila had the game-winning homer, but it was Prince Fielder's at-bat in the 11th that had to warm the heart of any true baseball fan (as long as they aren't a red Sox fan, too). With Miguel Cabrera on first and one out, the Red Sox put the shift on against the left-handed Fielder, moving third-baseman Nick Punto to the other side of second base. Fielder responded by hitting Mark Melancon's pitch the other way bouncing right by where Punto would have been had he not moved. It brought up the winning run to the plate. It was exactly what the Tigers needed at the time and played a big part in the victory. Oh, and earlier in the game he notched his 1,000th career hit, but it was 1,001 that was really special.
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Hanley Ramirez, Marlins. It was a rough ninth inning for the shortstop-turned-third baseman in Cincinnati. After Bruce led off the inning with a game-tying homer, Ramirez couldn't come up with a chopper off the bat of Drew Stubbs (and off Ramirez's glove). Ryan Hanigan followed with a single to right and Bell saved the game (temporarily) by backing up Giancarlo Stanton's throw to third that got by Ramirez. Then pinch-hitter Scott Rolen hit a hot shot to Ramirez, who couldn't field the ball cleanly and by the time he picked it up, it was obvious he couldn't get Stubbs at home or the double play.
John Lannan, Nationals. The left-hander requested a trade after not making the team out of spring training and he's not doing his part to make that attractive to other teams. In his first Triple-A start of the season Sunday, Lannan went just two innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout for Triple-A Syracuse.
Atlanta Braves. The Braves' 2011 collapse was overshadowed by the Red Sox epic choke job -- and with the Red Sox, Yankees and Giants off to an 0-3 start, it's easy to overlook Atlanta which dropped its first three games in New York. Atlanta hit just .151 with seven runs and 14 hits in three games against the Mets, including just three hits (and five runs) in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Mets. Atlanta didn't have a hit off of Mets starter Jonathon Niese through six innings. When the Braves did manage a hit, they were already down 7-0. The Braves were swept at the beginning of the season for the first time since 2003, when the Braves lost their first three games to Montreal, but went on to win 101 games and the NL East title.
Darvish debut: The day the Rangers shelled out more than $110 million for is finally here, as Yu Darvish makes his debut tonight against the Mariners. With Darvish and Ichiro in the house, there are sure to be plenty of people up early Tuesday morning in Japan to watch two of the biggest superstars the country has ever produced. 8:05 p.m. ET
Another Angel debut: While Darvish is starting in Texas, the guy he's expected to replace will be making his debut with a new team on Monday, as well. C.J. Wilson will be making his first start with his hometown Angels, but will be doing it in Minnesota in a mid-afternoon game at Target Field. The Angels' addition of Wilson was largely overshadowed by Albert Pujols' decision to sign with the team, but it should be remembered the team still shelled out $77.5 million for the right-hander. 4:10 p.m. ET
A-Rod eyeing Junior. Alex Rodriguez is looking for his first homer of the season -- and when he does do it, he'll tie his former teammate Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth on the all-time list with 630. Rodriguez has two doubles -- including one off the wall in center on Sunday -- in his first three games is hitting .300/.500/.500. Rodriguez has one homer off of Monday's starter, Baltimore left-hander Brian Matusz and is hitting .250/.313/.667 overall in 16 plate appearances against the 25-year-old. 7:05 p.m. ET
Full Monday schedule
• Back to school: Former Angel Darin Erstad is back at his alma mater, Nebraska, coaching the school's baseball team, and bringing his fiery personality to the Cornhuskers' program.
• Mr. Padre could make it official: Tony Gwynn -- and possible Dave Winfield -- would be interested in being part of an ownership team in San Diego, he suggests to the Los Angeles Times.
• Vin Scully: Really, just Vin Scully. (Of course, let's not forget the skill from the L.A. Times' T.J. Simers in telling this tale. However, some guys make it easier. And Scully's one of them.)
• Growing up in the booth: While we're on the topic of Hall of Famer broadcasters, Jon Miller's daughter writes in the New York Times about growing up around the game.
• R.I.P. Mike Wallace: Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes died on Sunday, the Ransom Center at the University of Texas has an archive of some of his old interviews, including this one with Bob Feller from 1957.
