Opening Day in July!

Never would I have thought a pandemic would change the way of sports. For a while, it looked like a baseball season was not going to happen this year. After a lot of back and forth with the player association, us baseball fans got the news there was going to be a baseball season in 2020. The season would include a 60 -game schedule and limitations on travel. Due to these limitations, teams would play other teams in their geographic region. New rules for the season would also include the universal DH, a runner on 2nd in extra innings, and cardboard cutouts of fans would replace baseball fans in the stands.

After what seemed like FOREVER, the wait was finally over and we got to witness Opening Day in July.


So here’s my little recap of Thursday, July 23th Day 1 of Opening Day:

The first MLB game of the 2020 season was The Yankees and The Nationals.
With the Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer face off. This would be the first time Cole would take the mound for the Yankees, and it would also be the first time pitchers that faced off against each other for the World Series would pitch against each other on Opening Day.

Scherzer would become the first pitcher to give up a homer in the 2020 season, that homer would be to GianCarlo Stanton in the top of the 1st. With Staton becoming the first player to get a home run under his belt for the 2020 season. Cole would then give up his first homer as a Yankee to Adam Eaton in the bottom of the first.

The game would be cut short in the 6th due to the rain delay. With an already shortened schedule, there would be no efforts to postpone the game. The Yankees won the game 4-1 against the Nationals.


The Dodgers would then go on to play the Giants for the second game of the season. Kershaw who was scheduled to pitch would be put on the IL last minute for back stiffness, calling up 22- year old rookie Dustin May for the start. May would become the second-youngest pitcher in franchise history to take the mound on Opening Day. ( I remember seeing May pitch for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, so love to see it, go him) This would also be the Giants first start without starter Madison Bumgarner who is now with the Diamondbacks and catcher Buster Posey who opted out of the season.

With a little bit of unknown territory for both teams, Keke Hernandez drove in five runs off of four hits with 1 homer. The Dodgers won 8-1 to the Giants, their only run coming from a sac fly from Pablo Sandoval in the 3rd.


Friday, July 24th Day 2 of Opening Day:

Boston Red Sox had the highest score throughout the MLB for Opening Day beating the Baltimore Orioles 13-2 achieving those runs with a series of doubles, two doubles being from Jose Peraza and JD Martinez. The only homer in the game coming from Rio Ruiz.


Other teams that dominated their first outing of the season were Sony Gray with the Reds beating the Tigers 7-1. The Reds looked great, they had a lot of momentum going and I absolutely loved to see it (duh cause I worked for them and know they have a good squad) Newly acquired Mike Moustakas went 3- for -4 with a 2 run homer, Joey Votto also grabbing one in the 5th.


Madison Bumgarner making his first start with the Diamondbacks got his first loss falling to the Padres. Chris Paddack picked up the win 7-2.

Kyle Hendricks got his first shutout of the 2020 season, he also made history as this was the first Opening Day shutout since 1974 for the Cubs. They won the Brewers 3-0 with a 2-run homer by Ian Happ and a solo shot by Anthony Rizzo.

Super exciting the Rangers got to open up at their new stadium Globe Life Field. Rockies RHP German Marquez held the Rangers to a no-hitter through six innings, but that was ended with Rougned Odors double giving them the 1-0 win.
Not only did they win but Lance Lynn was able to hold the Rockies to a shutout.


Lastly (Yes I know I know I left teams out, sorry)
The Angels and the A’s would become the only teams to go to extra innings being tied up 3-3 and put the new 2020 MLB rule into play. Shohei Ohtani would become the first runner to start on 2nd base. The game would then end with a grand slam by Matt Olson in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Athletics a 7-3 win against the Angels.


Well, that wraps up my Opening Day breakdown. Can I just say I'm so f****ing excited baseball’s back babyyyyyyy

Here’s to 58 more!