Around the Horn - 4/2

Bad news for the Mets on just the 2nd day of season. Willie Randolph is expecting big things from Pedro Martinez this season, and he must have gotten a knot in his stomach last night when he saw Pedro pull up lame. Pedro was pitching ineffectively against the Florida Marlins when he pulled a hamstring muscle in the 4th inning. He'll go for an MRI today. The Mets rallied back from a 4-0 deficit before the Marlins won it in 10.

Joe Torre's Dodgers are a perfect 2-0 after defeating the San Francisco Giants for the 2nd straight night. The highlight of this one had nothing to do with the 3-2 score, hits or putouts. 3rd Base coach Larry Bowa and ump Ed Montague after Montague ordered Bowa to stay in the 3rd Base coach's box. A new rule is in effect this season that states the coaches must remain in the boxes. Except the rule was not enforced during spring training or in the Dodgers opener. Bowa got tossed and then tossed some tables in the clubhouse.

Brian Backe and Chris Young hooked up in a pitchers duel in the Houston Astros-San Diego Padres game. Scott Hairston's 2-run home run was the difference in the Pads 2-1 win.

No one would blame the St. Louis Cardinals for still being upset over the opening day washout when they had a 5-1 lead. Last night they could only manage a Yadier Molina home run in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Opening in Japan gave Dice-K the rare opportunity of starting 2 of the Boston Red Sox first 3 games. Unlike his shaky opener against Oakland, Dice had the A's number last night, striking out 9 and allowing just 2 hits in 6.2 innings. Joe Blanton took the tough loss as the Red Sox prevailed 2-1. Kevin Youkilis tied Steve Garvey's MLB record with his 193rd straight game at 1st Base without an error.

The LA Angels won their first game, topping the Minnesota Twins 9-1. John Garland went 8 innings in his Angels debut and Vlad Guerrero had a 3 hit, 3 RBI night. Former Twin Torii Hunter went for the collar for the 2nd straight night.

"Win a Game with Josh Hamilton". The Rangers new outfielder became an instant hero in Arlington, Texas with a walk-off 2-run HR off of Mariners closer J.J. Putz. Putz blew only 2 save opps all of last year. Rangers set up man Joaquin Benoit had blown a 3-1 lead in the 8th. "The King", Felix Hernandez allowed just 1 unearned in his 7 inning start for the M's.

The Rays picked up Carl Crawford's $8.25 million option for the 2009 season and not surprisingly, declined the '09 option on Rocco Baldelli. The Rays also signed set up man Dan Wheeler to a 3-yr, $10.5 million deal.

A's outfielder Travis Buck got the golden sombrero last night and is 0-14 so far this season with 7 strikeouts.

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