Sabathia allows 6 runs, Teixeira goes hitless as Yanks lose opener  —  BALTIMORE — CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira won't soon forget their debut with the New York Yankees — no matter how hard they try.  —  Sabathia failed to get out of the fifth inning Monday in a 10-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles …

Saunders baffles A's to hand Halos victory  —  Kendrick backs up southpaw's scoreless effort with homer  —  ANAHEIM — The Opening Night sellout crowd, 43,220 strong, was on its feet, its ovation gaining momentum as Joe Saunders crossed the third-base line and lifted his cap.

Murphy puts big hurt on Reds  —  CINCINNATI - The Mets already expected big things from Daniel Murphy.  That's why they abandoned the idea of a platoon with Fernando Tatis in leftfield and installed Murphy as the No. 2 hitter for Opening Day.  —  But linking Murphy to the Big Hurt?

Dodgers give up on left-hander Miller  —  Former phenom released after injury-filled time with LA  —  SAN DIEGO — The release of Greg Miller on Monday was another unfortunate chapter in a phenom story gone awry.  —  The move was made as much to clear a 40-man roster spot as to pull the plug on Miller …

Francoeur puts tough '08 behind him  —  With new approach, Braves slugger homers in first at-bat  —  PHILADELPHIA — As he sat in the visitors' dugout at Citizens Bank Park on Sept. 24, Jeff Francoeur said, “Nobody is looking more forward to getting this season over than me.”

Josh Beckett waits another day  —  Rain no sweat for ace  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  The barometric pressure over New England fell yesterday as rain moved in and washed away Opening Day.  —  As long as the human barometer for the Red Sox [team stats] …

Griffey ties mark for Opening Day homers  —  No. 612 also his eighth in openers, equaling F. Robinson  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The last time Ken Griffey Jr. played an Opening Day game with the Mariners, he hit a home run and moved within one of tying a Major League record held by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.

Belisario rises from obscurity for LA  —  Dodgers right-hander never has pitched above Double-A  —  SAN DIEGO — You know Blake DeWitt as last year's Opening Day third baseman by default.  You know Doug Mientkiewicz as the Joe Torre favorite, a former Gold Glove first baseman who'll play anywhere.

Mets pen a happy opening script for Johan  —  CINCINNATI - Johan Santana pitched like an ace.  And this time he didn't have to worry when Jerry Manuel snatched the ball from his glove.  —  Amid a steady drizzle and temperatures hovering in the 30s, Omar Minaya's bullpen blueprint worked as scripted …

Bondy: K-Rod and friends make it look as easy as 1-2-3  —  CINCINNATI - The last pitch to Ramon Hernandez was a changeup, with a nasty little dip at the end.  The Reds' catcher struck out swinging, and then Francisco Rodriguez performed the same victory celebration he has carried out since anyone can remember.

Pitchers' duel dies in the desert  —  Phoenix - The anticipated pitchers' duel in the desert turned into a slugfest today at Chase Field.  —  Rockies ace Aaron Cook got the hook with just one out in the third inning, after throwing only 55 pitches.  Cook gave up six runs on seven hits, including two homers.