MLB Opening Day 2018 scores
It's been a cold, five-month wait for baseball fans, but the patience has finally paid off. It's Opening Day.
For those following closely, there's been a new level of anticipation for this season's first official day of baseball. Not only is the March 29 start date the earliest MLB opener in history, all 30 teams will start on the exact same day for the first time since 1968 (minus the Reds and Nationals, whose Thursday game was postponed due to weather).
MORE: Righteous dingers, epic moon shots on Opening Day
With more than your average amount of MLB action happening throughout the day, it might be tough to keep up with everything that happens from the web gems, to the homers, to the bloopers.
FOSTER: Markakis' HR reminds us the game doesn't care what you think
Luckily, Sporting News has you covered on all of Opening Day with the best highlights, hilarious moments and more.
(All times Eastern.)
MLB Opening Day 2018 results, highlights
1:50 p.m.: That's all, folks. The last game of Opening Day is over; the Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 8-2. Sleep fast, because Day 2 begins in about 12 hours with the Pirates and Tigers playing their rain-delayed opener in Detroit.
12:45 a.m.: And, we have our first complete game of the season: Cleveland ace Corey Kluber goes eight in a losing effort at Seattle. He threw 91 pitches.
12:20 a.m.: The throwback bullpen carts in Arizona are not being used.
Denied again. Yoshihisa Hirano, making his MLB debut, bypasses the bullpen cart. pic.twitter.com/bCDRMpKxQR
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) March 30, 2018
Jorge De La Rosa also disses the bullpen cart. Kinda surprised tbh.
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) March 30, 2018
Arizona has bullpen carts available for both teams. Chris Rusin declined. He's a jogger. Good for your health. Stop driving so much.
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) March 30, 2018
12:10 a.m.: The good news for Seattle: Felix Hernandez pitches 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four.
.@RealKingFelix—back on his throne.#OpeningNight pic.twitter.com/jD6i48Bfwl
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 30, 2018
12:05 a.m.: The first speed bump in Dee Gordon's move to center field: Gordon breaks back on a shallow fly ball by the Indians' Yan Gomes that falls between him, left field Ichiro Suzuki and shortstop Jean Segura. The hit brings in the Tribe's first run of the night against the Mariners.
It wasn’t pretty, but Yan Gomes’ bloop single gives the Indians their first run of the season. pic.twitter.com/UseabIeKVM
— WaitingForNextYear (@WFNYCLE) March 30, 2018
10:24 p.m.: Nelson Cruz dinger!
Whoa, Nelly, that ball had a lot of hang time. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/PvSZ6HgvIC
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2018
10:12 p.m.: Ichicro is back in Seattle!
Welcome home, Ichiro.#OpeningNight pic.twitter.com/qBK6mPQHRm
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 30, 2018
10:06 p.m.: A pitchers' duel in LA ends with a Giants win and a Kershaw loss.
8:15 p.m.: Another Opening Day walkoff; this time it's Marcus Semien who singles home the winning run for the A's.
GO ON AND WALK IT OUT.
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 30, 2018
The A's join the #OpeningDay walk-off party with Marcus Semien's single to center. (via @Athletics) pic.twitter.com/w7GfKZm42E
7:40 p.m.: Nick Markakis walks it off in the bottom of the ninth with a three-run bomb for the Braves!
It had been 20 years since the @Braves had a walk-off homer on #OpeningDay...
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 29, 2018
Nick Markakis took care of that. pic.twitter.com/tG8CERTDvu
7:17 p.m.: Hats off . . . to White Sox DH Matt Davidson for his three-home-run effort against the Royals. He's due up sixth in the ninth inning. Chicago leads KC 14-5.
.@matt_davidson24 is the 4th player in @MLB history to hit 3 home runs on #OpeningDay, joining Dmitri Young (2005), Tuffy Rhodes (1994) and George Bell (1988). #SoxStats
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 29, 2018
7:07 p.m.: Clever.
How many homers did Giancarlo Stanton hit doay pic.twitter.com/8wrZB1hWmC
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) March 29, 2018
6:56 p.m.: Homer No. 2 for Giancarlo Stanton travels farther than his first one. Tyler Clippard is not interested in seeing where it lands.
Giancarlo Stanton did it again for his 2nd HR of the day.
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) March 29, 2018
Absurd. pic.twitter.com/Y4qvcv6MUs
6:52 p.m.: Anybody psyched about a 250-foot F5? The Rangers' Joey Gallo wasn't. He hit one to Astros third baseman/fourth outfielder Alex Bregman.
6:45 p.m.: Attention, #killthewin crowd: Chris Sale's W is out the window. Red Sox relievers blow a 4-0 lead against the Rays in the eighth. Denard Span's bases-loaded triple off Carson Smith gives Tampa Bay the lead.
6:41 p.m.: The first walkoff win of the season goes to the Orioles, who beat the Twins 3-2 in 11. Adam Jones homers off Fernando Rodney.
WALK-OFF HOMER! @SimplyAJ10 gives the #Orioles a 3-2 win in the 11th. O's walk off on #OpeningDay for the 3rd straight year! pic.twitter.com/KHx4E4wRxQ
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) March 29, 2018
6:37 p.m.: Welcome back to the Ken Giles Experience. The Astros' closer (for now) is running into trouble in Arlington after coming into a 4-0 game in the ninth.
Mazara deep fly ball out to center field for second out of inning. Andrus tags up to third on the out.
— Stephen Perez (@therealsperez) March 29, 2018
Choo batting, Ken Giles throws wild pitch and Andrus comes around to score the first run of 2018 for Texas.
Astros 4, Rangers 1
(Giles eventually finishes off a 4-1 Houston win.)
6:11 p.m.: ANNNNNND . . .
Let the second guessing begin. Hoby Milner replaces Aaron Nola and serves up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) March 29, 2018
6:08 p.m.: Check out Gabe Kapler trying too hard in his game as Phillies skipper:
Gabe Kapler pulls Aaron Nola in the sixth. Nola has allowed no runs. He threw just 68 pitches.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) March 29, 2018
6:03 p.m.: Never bet on baseball, kids:
Pay your debts https://t.co/jOxGJscA3O
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) March 29, 2018
5:32 p.m.: Josh Donaldson seems to be having issues throwing the ball over to first today. Worth keeping an eye on. (UPDATE: Donaldson reportedly has been having issues all spring:)
Early in spring, we had heard that Josh Donaldson had a sore right shoulder. Keeping a close eye, never once did we see him uncork a throw with serious zip on it. I'd been hoping he was just taking it easy in pre-season. Maybe that wasn't the case. #Bluejays
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) March 29, 2018
4:59 p.m.: Color me skeptical, but…
Yes, the #Astros are using a 4-man outfield against Joey Gallo. Here's what it looks like: pic.twitter.com/bRP1ohwI8i
— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) March 29, 2018
4:56 p.m.: Nunez inside-the-parker!
We've already got our first inside-the-park home run of 2018! pic.twitter.com/2txHigkZjw
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) March 29, 2018
4:52 p.m.: Warning: NSFW.
86 slider looking. 97 fastball. 87 slider swinging. #Sevy pic.twitter.com/AaIAHoYXpU
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) March 29, 2018
4:39 p.m.: Welcome to the Show, Shohei Ohtani!
4:28 p.m.: Welcome to Opening Day, Eduardo Nunez!
Guys, Eduardo Nunez just hit an inside-the-park home run. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/x9nyPP15IR
— Andrew Mearns (@MearnsPSA) March 29, 2018
4:23 p.m.: Here's video of that dinger, by the way.
Oh hey there, Giancarlo!
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 29, 2018
Stanton homers in his first at-bat for the @Yankees. (via @YesNetwork) pic.twitter.com/1O2hV1zSZM
4:10 p.m.: Giancarlo Stanton wasting no time in pinstripes, as he hits a laser to right field for a two-run dinger in the first inning.
Think Stanton knew he got it? pic.twitter.com/j0Debx4DRW
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) March 29, 2018
4:03 p.m.: Live from Atlanta…
Likewise, it’s hard to tell from the picture, but that’s Hank Aaron waving in that car. pic.twitter.com/NcVWqrl7er
— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) March 29, 2018
4:01 p.m.: I mean, I like it.
Russell Martin wyd pic.twitter.com/oEuSKCI9Ie
— Nick Parco (@nick_parco) March 29, 2018
3:46 p.m.: Somber moment as the Blue Jays retire Roy Halladay's number prior to their game vs. the Yankees.
Roy Halladay's number 32 retired by #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/yw30jBo3Yo
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) March 29, 2018
3:45 p.m.: The Astros are back, baby.
I see you, George Springer pic.twitter.com/01QuehjemF
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) March 29, 2018
3:30 p.m.: Craig Gentry is in midseason form! What a snag.
What a catch from Craig Gentry robbing a HR from Eddie Rosario! pic.twitter.com/BwggjLqV5O
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) March 29, 2018
3:23 p.m.: ICYMI:
ICYMI when Frazier signed with the Mets pic.twitter.com/uGJRzd3Fqj
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) March 29, 2018
3:14 p.m.: Hello, it's Joe, I'm back, shout out to Ryan for letting me eat.
3:09 p.m.: Mets are pouring it on the Cardinals. Up 8-3 now in the fifth inning.
Feels good to use this again pic.twitter.com/XllSi8C9qh
— D.J. Short (@djshort) March 29, 2018
3:03 p.m.: Kyle Schwarber is having himself a roller-coaster day, eh?
And there's the positive of what Schwarber brings to the table. Launches a solo shot to right field to extend the Cubs lead to 6-4. Third Cubs homer of the day.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) March 29, 2018
Before that homer, Schwarber gave the Cubs this defensive blooper ...
BREAKING: Kyle Schwarber still can’t play the outfield pic.twitter.com/vAN6DB2ibo
— Jake Spiwak (@JakeSpiwak) March 29, 2018
And this blooper, too. Yikes.
Schwarber.....not great pic.twitter.com/86plMmFWSe
— Ozzie (@OzzieStern) March 29, 2018
2:53 p.m.: Adrian Gonzalez sighting!
Adrian Gonzalez's first hit as a Met is a big one: a double down the right-field line. Todd Frazier hustles around from first base to beat the relay and the Mets take a 4-3 lead in the fifth.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 29, 2018
2:49 p.m.: Sporting News MLB editor Jason Foster is down in Atlanta for Opening Day. Give him a follow, will you?
No Herrera and no Kingery in the Phillies’ lineup vs. the Braves. Meanwhile, Nick Markakis bats cleanup for Atlanta. For some reason. pic.twitter.com/CvLvdf2KqV
— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) March 29, 2018
2:45 p.m.: Hey all. It's Ryan Fagan, and I'm taking over for guru Joe for a half-hour of so.
In case you missed it, Shohei Ohtani is in the Angels' lineup today, batting eighth as the DH.
Angels' Opening Day lineup. Shohei Ohtani is making his MLB debut at DH. pic.twitter.com/BJxFN3B6se
— Maria I. Guardado (@mi_guardado) March 29, 2018
2:38: Those rings belong in a museum.
#Astros owner Jim Crane says the club will give out "about 900 (World Series) rings" to everyone connected to his organization. pic.twitter.com/1YBYsHyGKB
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 29, 2018
2:27: The Cardinals catch up to the Mets at 3 apiece off an RBI single from Jose Martinez.
2:16: The Cubs are in a dogfight with…
the Marlins?
#Cubs lead 5-4 in the 4th, following doubles by @KrisBryant_23 and @WContreras40. https://t.co/p3kdDfWccA pic.twitter.com/ZutKROCL2W
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2018
2:10: Everyone relax.
People are being ridiculous. Schwarber will be a Gold Glover in left field this year, guaranteed. #OpeningDay
— Evan Davis (@EvanDavisSports) March 29, 2018
1:57: The Adventures of Kyle Schwarber and Left Field.
BREAKING: Kyle Schwarber still can’t play the outfield pic.twitter.com/vAN6DB2ibo
— Jake Spiwak (@JakeSpiwak) March 29, 2018
1:56: Interesting nugget:
Amed Rosario's first hit of the season had an exit velocity of 103.6 MPH. Only 6 of Rosario's batted balls from last season were faster. pic.twitter.com/sBSSeXbnJg
— John Edwards (@John_Edwards_) March 29, 2018
1:51: Cubs fans sure missed this swing.
Power with a purpose. #TeamRizzo pic.twitter.com/g209t2Jitl
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2018
1:40: Aaaaand Noah Syndergaard gives up a two-run dinger to Yadier Molina. It's 2-1 Cardinals.
1:32: Mets take a 1-0 lead on a bad throwing error. Brandon Nimmo comes around to score.
1:30: Mets are threatening: First and second one out, bottom of the first inning.
1:20: Over in Flushing, Noah Syndergaard works an easy 1-2-3 first inning, including touching 99 mph to put away Dexter Fowler. Thor is ready.
1:15: The Marlins scored a run! The Marlins scored a run!
1:10: No caption needed.
José Ureña's tied the record with 3 https://t.co/Z45FUh7s0k
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) March 29, 2018
1:04: The Marlins, everyone.
Someone warming up in the #Marlins pen in the first inning of the first game of the 2018 MLB season? Take that, pace of play! #OpeningDay
— Joe (@JoeRiveraSN) March 29, 2018
12:54: Here it is, your first dinger of the season.
Ian Happ hits a home run on the FIRST PITCH OF THE MLB SEASON!pic.twitter.com/Yqe8ytnem7
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 29, 2018
12:53: "I've made a huge mistake."
If Ian Happ leads off today's game with a home run, I will jump in Lake Michigan later today.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) March 29, 2018
12:45: IT BEGINS!
ian happ hits first pitch of jeter era out. 1-0 cubs (i urge you to look at my breakout players from a few minutes ago. check out who's No. 1.)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 29, 2018
12:26 p.m.: CHRIS DAVIS LEADING OFF THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
#Orioles Baseball is back!
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 29, 2018
Here’s our #OpeningDay lineup as we open the 2018 season at home vs the Twins. @Dylan_Bundy making his first Opening Day start. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/GazzwQAG6z
12:11: Everything that's old is new again. It's Opening Day, everyone. I'm so glad you could be here with us.
Before today's early slate of games, read up on one of the biggest storylines of the offseason: Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani will make his @MLB debut after a rocky spring training, but both Ohtani and the @Angels say it's only a matter of time, before the 23-year-old makes good on the hype.
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 29, 2018
SN's feature on "The Babe Ruth of Japan": https://t.co/WVGllSyxzS pic.twitter.com/XISurbrQgj