It’s that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing and Major League Baseball is back in full swing.
Opening day took place across the nation on April 1. The San Francisco Giants started off in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics faced the Seattle Mariners in Oakland. Both suffered losses but are coming back strong after getting the first game of the season out of the way.
The 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants suffered a loss against their rivals, the Dodgers 4-0. The defending champions faced one of Major League’s top pitchers, Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw went the distance, throwing 94 pitches in nine innings against the defending champions, limiting the Giants to only four hits while striking out seven and walking none. Kershaw also put the Dodgers on the scoreboard with a homerun over the center field wall.
Although the Giants suffered an opening day loss, they were able to defeat the Dodgers the next two nights to win the three game series 2-1. In the second game of the series the Giants won 3-0 for their first win of the 2013 season. Madison Baumgardner pitched for the Giants and was able to shut them down through eight innings while only allowing two hits, walking none and striking out six. Juaquin Arias got the Giants’ first RBI of the season while the 2012 National League Most Valuable Player, Buster Posey, scored for their first run. The Giants concluded the game with Sergio Romo on the mound for the save.
On the other side of the bay, the Athletics suffered a similar start to their 2013 season with a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Felix Hernandez pitched for the Seattle Mariners, striking out eight and giving up only three hits over seven and two thirds innings on opening day. Catcher John Jaso and designated hitter Seth Smith were the only Athletics to get hits on the season opener.
The Athletics suffered a loss on the second game of the series but were able to make a turnaround on the third game of the series with a 6-2 win for their first win of the 2013 season. Both Jed Lowrie and Christ Young got their first home runs of the year while Tommy Milone took the mound and kept the Mariners in check, allowing only four hits and two runs in seven innings while striking out four and walking one.
Although both Bay Area teams did suffer opening day losses, both teams have been able to turn the tides. After winning the World Series last year the Giants are optimistic with their team roster nearly the same as last year. Everyone is looking healthy and picking up right where they left off last year after defeating the Detroit Tigers in four games.
The Athletics finished last year with a successful 94-68 record claiming first place in the American League West and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2006. After concluding the 2012 season with a loss to the American League Champion Detroit Tigers, the Athletics are back for another chance at becoming World Series Champions in 2013.