What: MLB season opener
Who: LA Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks
Result: Dodgers 3-1
When and where: Saturday, March 22 – Sydney Cricket Ground
Crowd: 38,266
Match rating: 8 out of 10
NINE INNINGS IN 90 SECONDS
Thunder and lightning delayed the start of the 2014 MLB season by a few minutes but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the near sell-out crowd in Sydney. Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill got his name in the history books with the first ever MLB base hit in Australia with a ground-ball single after an error from Dodgers short-stop Hanley Ramirez. Paul Goldschmidt also got on base but Mark Trumbo grounded out to let Kershaw got out of the first inning without conceding a run. Wade Miley walked Adrian Gonzalez to start the second inning. Scott Van Slyke then came close to hitting the first home run, hitting the left field fence to get to second base. A ground-out RBI from Andre Ethier then saw Gonzalez round home plate to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Gonzalez got back on first base off a wild pitch from Miley in the top of the fourth. That brought Van Slyke back to the plate and the dangerous right-hander became the first man to hit a homer in a MLB fixture Down Under, slamming a line-drive to right field for a two-run homer to extend the Dodgers lead to 3-0. Miley dodged a bullet in the top of the fifth, striking out Adrian Gonzalez with the bases loaded to end the inning. That was his last involvement as Will Harris took over at the mound. Goldschmidt produced his second base hit of the night in the bottom of the sixth, a double to centre field. He got to third base off a wild pitch from Kershaw and scored the Diamondbacks' first run off an RBI ground-out from Mark Trumbo to cut the deficit to 3-1 after six innings. Kershaw exited to appreciative applause with two batters out in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Perez and Brian 'The Beard' Wilson both came and went without conceding a run before Kenley Jansen finished the job for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth.
THE ATMOSPHERE?
From the moment the covers came off at about 7.40pm local time the atmosphere lifted noticeably. Australian of the Year and AFL superstar Adam Goodes threw the opening pitch and by the time the Star Spangled Banner and Advance Australia Fair had been sung the famous old ground had all the buzz of the first morning of an Ashes cricket Test – well, almost. When the action got underway it seemed the crowd was interested in the novelty of catching a foul ball than what was happening on the mound. But they got into the swing of things, so to speak, and with the exception of the odd Mexican Wave stayed focused on the on-field action until the final pitch was thrown.
WHO DOMINATED?
Scott Van Slyke's two-run homer was crucial but the night belonged to baseball's highest paid pitcher. Despite concedinng his first ever run on opening day, the 26-year-old showed Australian fans why he is being paid AUS$238 million over seven years. In 6 2/3 innings the two-time CY Young Award winner conceded five hits, one earned run, one walk, threw one wild pitch and produced 72 strikes from 102 pitches in a commanding performance.
WHO STUNK IT UP?
Wade Miley had a rough start to the season after starting for the injured Patrick Corbin. He conceded three earned runs, three hits, two walks, threw one wild pitch and had eight strike outs from 83 pitches at the mound before he was replaced after five innings. But in fairness to him he did get out of a jam with the bases loaded in the fifth before he was replaced by Will Harris.
WHAT THE...
A hot dog that stretches two foot in diameter is more than a little impressive, but $40, really?
Crocodile Dundee says:
These Yanks sure know how to put on a show. Not sure about their tucker but a great night out for the blokes and sheilas that packed into the SCG to witness a bit of history. I give the whole experience eight Crocs out of 10.
LOOK OUT UP AHEAD:
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks will do it all again on Sunday at 1pm (AEDT).