Ryan Zimmerman raised a fist when he rounded first, then tossed away his helmet as he approached the plate and the mass of teammates waiting to celebrate his game-ending homer. Zimmerman?s tiebreaking solo shot with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday night gave the Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Braves in the first regular-season game at $611M Nationals Park, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Dodgers used a five-man infield against the Red Sox. Too bad they weren?t allowed to put a player or two in the Los Angeles Coliseum stands. Kevin Cash and Kevin Youkilis hit cheap homers off Esteban Loaiza to account for five runs in the first three innings, and the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 7-4 Saturday night before an announced crowd of 115,300?largest ever to watch a baseball game, as reported by the Associated Press.

Rich Harden gave Oakland a dominant start on Wednesday as the Athletics defeated the Red Sox 5-1 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, according to MLB.com He was limited to just seven appearances in 2007 because of a variety of injuries to his right arm. "Rich showed tonight against the World [Series] champions how good he is and how much we need him," A's Manager Bob Geren said. "Tonight, he pitched the way we know he can, and we're hoping to get 30-plus more of those." "My catcher Kurt Suzuki called a great game," Harden said.

Daisuke Matsuzaka?s homecoming was saved by Manny Ramirez. Ramirez hit his second two-run double in the 10th inning, and the Red Sox began their World Series title defense by beating the Athletics 6-5 in Tuesday night?s major league season opener in Tokyo.

Bobby Crosby and Jack Hannahan hit back-to-back homers and Emil Brown drove in the winning run in the ninth as the Athletics beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-3 in Japan, as reported by the Associated Press. The Athletics will meet the Hanshin Tigers in another exhibition game Sunday before regular-season games against the Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

David Ortiz once again showed Japanese baseball fans his awesome power. In his first at-bat in Japan since 2004, the year he hit a 514-foot homer in the same stadium, Ortiz smacked a solo shot under the Tokyo Dome roof and over the left-field wall Saturday, as reported by the Associated Presss. That started the Red Sox to a 6-5 exhibition win over the Hanshin Tigers, the first of Boston?s four games on the trip. The World Series champions meet the Yomiuri Giants in another exhibition Sunday then play the first two games of the regular season against the Athletics on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

China?s red flag with its yellow stars blew in a stiff breeze in deep left field alongside the U.S. Stars and Stripes. Except for this, the first MLB game in China mostly looked like any afternoon at the ballpark in America, according to an Associated Press report. The Dodgers and the Padres played to a 3-3 tie on a near-perfect Saturday in Beijing, with clear blue skies replacing the city?s usual smog, and 50-degree temperatures making it a glorious debut for baseball. The second game is set for Sunday. Both teams are using only a half dozen players who will be on the opening day 25-man roster. The game at the new Olympic venue drew an announced crowd of 12,224?a near sellout?and had many of the touches of home: vendors selling peanuts, hot dogs, beer, soft drinks, or?and this is China?plastic bottles of tea.

Randy Johnson was happy to pitch without pain. Still, he was disappointed with the results of his first outing since back surgery, as reported by the Associated Press. Johnson gave up three runs and four hits, including a three-run homer by Chris Iannetta, in 1 1-3 innings Monday during the D'Backs 10-9 victory over the Rockies. Johnson walked one and struck out one.