The Associated Press
CINCINNATI Ñ The day started with Marge SchottÕs dog-and-pony show and ended with Kevin Mitchell pleasing his grandmother and his owner with a game-winning homer.
It was everything the Cincinnati Reds could have hoped for on opening day Ñ just a day late.
Inspired by a mid-game note from his grandmother, Mitchell homered with one out in the 10th inning Monday for a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on the day designated as the RedsÕ traditional opener.
It had been another dismal day for the Reds until Mitchell came to bat in the 10th against Rob Murphy, a pitcher who has stopped him before. Mitchell had struck out in three of his seven previous career at-bats against the left-hander.
Making matters worse, Mitchell had fanned in his last three at-bats Monday. But he did have his grandmother going for him.
Josie Whitfield, 72, was watching the game with Schott, the RedsÕ owner, from an overhead booth. She decided to write her grandson a note during the middle of the game, and Schott had it delivered to Mitchell on the bench.
ÒI wrote, ÔKevin, IÕm looking right down on you, so get me a good hit. Love, Gram,ÕÓ Whitfield said. ÒAfter he struck out two times, I didnÕt know. I said maybe I put too much pressure on him.Ó
Mitchell was surprised to get the note. He was even more surprised when Murphy threw him a split-finger fastball down the middle of the plate in the 10th.
ÒI was surprised to get a strike in that situation,Ó he said. ÒAll day long IÕd seen a lot of off-speed pitches and sliders, nothing near the plate. IÕd been swinging at a lot of bad pitches.Ó
That one was supposed to be out of the strike zone, too. It wound up in the third deck in left field.
Giants 8, Pirates 0
SAN FRANCISCO Ñ Matt Williams didnÕt miss free agent Will Clark on opening day, homering in his first two at-bats against Zane Smith and finishing with five RBI.
That made it easy for John Burkett, who limited Pittsburgh to five hits in seven innings as San Francisco opened the season before 58,077 at Candlestick Park.
Last season, Williams had a career-high 38 homers with 110 RBIs batting behind Clark, who left the Giants to sign with the Texas Rangers.
Astros 6, Expos 5
HOUSTON Ñ Mitch Williams was the Wild Thing again. But his new team got him off the hook after he walked home two runs in the 12th inning.
HoustonÕs Jeff Bagwell singled in one run and Ken Caminiti hit a decisive two-run double.
Williams, who ended 1993 by giving up the World Series-ending home run to TorontoÕs Joe Carter, relieved to start the 12th with the score tied at 3-3. After getting two outs and allowing two hits, Williams walked three straight
Braves 4, Padres 1
SAN DIEGO Ñ Atlanta picked up where it left off last year. So did San Diego Ñ unfortunately for the Padres.
Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux allowed seven hits in eight innings, and Deion Sanders and rookie Ryan Klesko hit homers as the Braves won their first game as members of the NL East after three straight NL West division crowns. Atlanta had a franchise-record 104 victories last
The Padres, who lost 101 games in 1993, got off to a bumbling start. The game was delayed 16 minutes to accommodate fans stuck in ticket lines because of a computer crash, four-time NL batting champion Tony Gwynn left after four innings with a strained left calf and ace Andy Benes was the loser.
Phillies 12, Rockies 6
DENVER Ñ Although snow flurries created an unusual backdrop for Philadelphia, the defend-ing NL champions did their usual job on Colorado.
Getting a homer and four RBI from Mariano Duncan, the Phillies began defense of their title by using an eight-run eighth inning to win 12-6 before 72,470 at Mile High Stadium Ñ the fourth-largest opening-day crowd in baseball history.
Last season, the Phillies beat the Rockies nine times in 12 games Ñ including scores of 18-1, 15-9, 6-0 and 10-7. It was the RockiesÕ second-largest crowd ever, trailing only the 80,227 for the home opener last season. The Rockies set a baseball record by drawing 4,483,350 in 1993. Read Next Article