6B
SPORTS TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
BASEBALL GAMEDAY
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
first home run of the season
"You've got to take every opportunity you get to get out there and play and prove yourself," Elgie said.
But while today's game will be another chance for younger players to get some valuable experience.
Kansas' usual starters are accustomed to the high-velocity arms of the Big 12, where pitchers routinely fastballs in the mid-90s. But the Vikings pitchers likely will be throwing fastballs somewhere in the mid-80s, which can throw off a hitter's timing.
it will mean something else for the elder members of the club.
"It does get frustrating.
it does get frustrating,
especially if you have an 0-for-2 or 0-for-3 game,
said junior left tielder Jimmy Waters. "Because these
are games where, as a hitter, you're expecting to get a
hit in every at-bat."
"You've got to take every opportunity you get to get out there an play and prove yourself."
PLAYING TIME
But Price said facing pitchers more reliant on off-speed pitches — curve balls and changeups especially — can benefit his more experienced hitters, as well.
ZAC ELGIE
Sophomore first baseman
"It helps them continue to make progres on their mechanics with off-speed pitches," coach Price said.
Though the competition tonight will be a far cry from No. 22 Texas A&M, which Kansas faced over the week.
end, or no,
which it will
take on
starting
Friday
at the end
of the
day, it's a
game the
team needs
to win.
Underclassmen should see more of the field tonight.
end, or No. 7 Texas,
"You just have to look at it like it's another game," Waters said.
Elgie agreed, saying that regardless of who the Jayhawks were playing, they needed to focus on playing their best.
"Our coaches really stress just going out there and playing baseball," he said.
KANSAS VS MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE 6 p.m., Lawrence
Brandon Macias
KANSAS OPENING PITCH
ATAGLANCI
PLAYERTOWATCH
Kansas (18-10-1, 3-2-1) is 4-1-1 in its last six games, and 7-2-1 in its last 10.
Saturday's 8-8 tie against No. 22 Texas A&M was a disappointing to a hard-fought series for the Jayhawks, but they've brushed it off and are ready for their five games this week — starting tonight against MissouriValley College.
Sophomore first baseman Zac Elgie
Because of an early season slump, Elgie is still only hitting at a .200 clip on the season. But the sophomore has hit safely in five of the last six games in which he's made an appearance, including two home runs. If Elgie can continue to produce up to his potential, he'll provide coach Price with another dangerous bat off the bench.
BY THE NUMBERS
Elgie
4-2 - Kansas' record in games started by Thomas Taylor
15 - Kansas' total runs in the first three innings in its previous three developmental games
4-2 - Kansas' record in games started by Thomas Taylor
5 Kansas underclassmen who should see playing time tonight
MLB
Wright, Santana lead Mets to win
Ben Ward
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — David Wright, Johan Santana, Jason Bay. Each of them delivered. This was exactly what the New York Mets were looking for on opening day. Wright hit a two-run homer, Santana pitched six effective innings and the Mets finally solved Josh Johnson, beat
ing the Florida Marlins 7-1 on Monday.
Newcomers Bay, Rod Barajas and Gary Matthews Jr. each got two hits for New York, which improved to a major league-
Fernando Nieve replaced Santana and got six outs before Francisco Rodriguez finished just one day after returning from Venezuela, where two of his brothers were
For one game, at least, the Mets looked ready to bounce back after they stumbled to a fourth place finish in the NL East last year.
Jorge Cantu hit an RBI double in the sixth to cut New York's lead to 2-1, but Santana got Ronny Paulino to fly out to center with runners on first and second to end the inning.
The crowd of 41,245 for Citi Field's first opening day made it clear it hadn't forgotten what happened in 2009...
best 32-17 (.653) on opening day. Manager jerry Manuel also got three scoreless innings from his beleaguered bullpen, which he said was his biggest concern entering the season.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez and the Marlins think they can surprise the experts again this season and content for a playoff spot, but this sloppy performance wasn't a very good beginning.
Johnson allowed four runs and five hits over five-plus innings in his first opening day start, dropping to 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA in 10 career starts against New York. Cameron Maybin struck out swinging three times and Florida committed three errors during the Mets' four-run sixth.
Santana looked healthy after finishing last season on disabled list, allowing just four hits while improving to 4-1 with a 3.56 ERA in five career opening day starts.
injured in a car accident.
The Mets desperately need a fast start to wash away the bad taste from last season's 70-92 finish, when they were ravaged by injuries and
made a handful of embarrassing mistakes while stumbling to their worst finish since they went 66-95 in 2003.
The crowd of 41,245 for Citi Field's first opening day made it clear it hadn't forgotten what happened in 2009, booing erratic left-hander Oliver Perez and the training staff during pregame introductions. Manuel, second baseman Luis Castillo and reliever Sean Green also got mixed receptions.
Wright sent a charge through the crowd when he sliced a 1-0 pitch from Johnson over the wall in right to give New York a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The All-Star third baseman hit a career-low 10 homers last season, including five at home during the Mets' first season at their spacious ballpark.
Jeff Francoeur also drove in two runs for New York, which opened the year with shortstop Jose Reyes, All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran and first baseman Daniel Murphy on the disabled list. Pinch-hitter Angel Pagan added an RBI single in the sixth.
MLB
Rangers rally to beat Blue Jays
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON, Texas — Shaun Marcum took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning on opening day for Toronto before the Texas Rangers rallied for a 5-4 win Monday on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas scored twice in the ninth off Blue Jays closer Jason Frasor (0-1).
Michael Young, the longest-tenured Texas player in his 10th season, had a leadado double before Josh Hamilton took a called third strike. Vladimir Guerrero then had an infidel single, though second baseman Aaron Hill made a diving stab deep behind the base to keep the tying run from scoring.
But Nelson Cruz hit an RBI double down the right-field line and Chris Davis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Saltalamacchia's flyball to right-center was well out of reach for the drawn-in outfield.
Marcum missed last season, recovering from elbow surgery. The right-hander didn't allow a hit until Guerrero's one-out single in the seventh, after walking Hamilton, Cruz, who hit 33 home runs last season, followed with a three-run homer that tied the game at 3.
Marcum struck out six and walked one as the first Blue lays pitcher since 2002 other than Roy Hallady to start the season opener. Hallady, a six-time All-
Star who won an American League Cy Young Award in his 12 seasons with Toronto, was traded to Philadelphia over the winter.
The back-to-back hits in the seventh were the only ones allowed by Marcum. Scott Downs took over to start the eighth and threw a perfect inning.
Frank Francisco (1-0), the fourth Texas pitcher, struck out two in the ninth.
In what was a home opener for him, Vernon Wells had three hits for Toronto. He had a two-run homer in the first and an RBI single in the eighth for a 4-3 lead. Wells, the longest-tenured Blue Jays player beginning his 12th season, grew up in Arlington and still lives in the area.
Wells' go-ahead hit in the eighth came on a 98-mph pitch thrown by Rangers reliever Neftali Feliz, the 21-year-old fireballer who remained a setup reliever after being given a chance this spring to be in the rotation.
MLB
Scott Feldman, who started last season as a long reliever before moving into the Rangers rotation and winning 17 games, gave up three runs on a pair of home runs. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked none three days after getting a new contract through 2012 worth nearly $14 million and including a team option for 2013.
Adam Lind hit a solo homer in the third that gave Toronto a 3-0 lead.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Drew helps Diamondbacks beat Padres
PHOENIX — Stephen Drew hit an inside-the-park home run and Dan Haren held San Diego to three hits in seven innings in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 6-3 win over the Padres on Monday.
For the second year in a row, someone hit an inside-the-park homer on opening day — former Diamondbacks player Emilio Bonifacio did it for the Florida Marlins last year, which was the first one after 41 years.
Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer, the only earned runs among the six given up by San Diego starter Jon Garland (0-1).
Haren (1-0) allowed one run and struck out four without a walk. He threw 20 of 24 first-pitch strikes and had a three-ball count against only one batter.
Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Blanks hit consecutive two-out homers off Bob Howry in the ninth for San Diego.
Haren retired 19 of the first 20 battersfaced, including 15 before
Gonzalez doubled with one out in the seventh, Chase Headley's two-out RBI single ended the shutout.
Garland, in his first opening day start,
gave up five hits in four
Drew's was the sixth inside-the park home run in the franchise's 13-year history and the fifth by any player at Chase Field.
With two outs in the fourth he hit Garland's 2-2 pitch high
Drew's was the sixth inside-the-park home run in the franchise's 13-year history and the fifth by any player at Chase Field.
innings, walking two and striking out four. A starter for Arizona last season before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he is 4-7 at Chase Field.
2 piles high and deep. The ball caromed off the balcony over the right-center wall and far away from Padres' center fielder Tony Gwynn. By the time left fielder Kyle Banks chased down the ball and
threw it to the infield. Drew was halfway between third and home.
Haren scored ahead of him from first after reaching on the third baseman Headley's error.
The Diamondbacks got two unearned in the first, thanks to shortstop Everth Cabrera's fielding error. Drew singled, then Justin Upton hit what should have been an ideal double-play bouncer just to the left of second base. But Cabrera bobbled the ball and both runners were safe. Reynolds walked to load the bases, then Miguel Montero lined a two-run single to right.
In the third, Upton singled with one out, then Adam LaRoche struck out swinging for the second time. That brought up Reynolds who, coming off a 44-home run season, hit the first pitch high and into the left field seats.
Matt Stairs appeared as a pinch hitter for the Padres in the eighth inning to tie a major league record by appearing for his 12th major league team.