Mets catcher Josh Thole made a bizarre mental error in the second inning of Friday's series opener between New York and Philadelphia on Friday, jogging back to first base after safely reaching second — and getting thrown out doing it.

Jason Bay and Scott Hairston homered off Cliff Lee, backing R.A. Dickey and leading the Mets to a 5-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park.

In the zone for the first three innings, Aaron Harang rattled off nine straight strikeouts in Friday's opener against the Padres at Dodger Stadium to set a new team record.

It is well known that Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, but D-backs hitting coach Don Baylor made history of his own in 1962.

Mike Cameron played for eight teams in his 17-year Major League career, but the former All-Star center fielder will retire a Mariner.

Following a one-game aberration, Matt Cain regained his dominance Friday and limited the Pittsburgh Pirates to one hit in throwing a complete game as the Giants won their fourth consecutive home opener, 5-0.

There was a time, for about a dozen years beginning in the early 1980s, when Jan. 1 would roll around and it meant one thing for some of baseball's most elite talent: Harvard Park.

Rain may have delayed the start of Friday's pregame ceremonies, but it certainly didn't dampen the mood inside Busch Stadium, as the Cardinals honored their history and celebrated last year's championship.

Bryan LaHair belted his first career grand slam and Ian Stewart hit his first homer in more than a year to power the Cubs to a 9-5 victory over the Cardinals in their home opener.

The Indians scored seven runs in the first inning and went on to an 8-3 victory over the Royals on Friday in Kansas City's home opener.

Right-hander Jason Marquis fared well in his start with Double-A New Britain on Thursday and is tentatively scheduled to rejoin the Twins rotation on Wednesday against the Yankees.

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts traveled with the team to Toronto for the start of a 10-game road trip as the 34-year-old continues to progress from a concussion and reacclimate to a Major League lifestyle.

Big innings generally equal momentary relaxation for struggling teams, and the Red Sox could not have put together a more prototypical big inning in the eighth Friday.

Barry Zito gets his first start after his four-hit shutout Saturday at AT&T Park, when he and the Giants face the Pirates and right-hander Charlie Morton, who is expected to make his 2012 debut.

The Indians will try to keep the road momentum going on Saturday, when they match Jeanmar Gomez against Jonathan Sanchez.

Bryan Stow's misfortune became part of the fabric of the Giants' 2011 story. So it was fitting that the team, full of optimism as it played its home opener Friday, employed the magic of video to enable a slowly progressing Stow to help throw the ceremonial first pitch.

If this was a craftier version of Josh Beckett, the Red Sox will gladly take it. Coming home after a 1-5 road trip, dominance wasn't needed from the veteran righty nearly as much as a win.