Best of Opening Day, Part 1: Two-out homers steal victories

That worked out rather well, didn't it?

Despite my initial fear ? however small ? that an opening day divided against itself could not stand, Thursday's slate of six games ended up being a nice and manageable little appetizer to Friday's larger spread of nine home openers. Yeah, the ESPN night game involving the defending world champs didn't have the calendar to itself, but a great pitching matchup and the theater of Chavez Ravine at night made up for it.

Anyway, let's get on to the best parts of Thursday before we dig into a great Friday ...

Not so fast, my friends!: �With their teams one out away from an opening day loss, Ramon Hernandez of the Cincinnati Reds and Cameron Maybin of the San Diego Padres went all Lee Corso and hit ninth-inning homers to snatch victory from the proverbial jaws of defeat. And though Maybin's game-tying job in St. Louis (and subsequent extra-inning heroics) were stellar, Hernandez's three-run shot in Cincinnati's 7-6 win was the type of opening day drama you draw up in your mind. The 12-year veteran catcher went opposite field off Milwaukee closer John Axford before rounding the bases at a raucous Great American Ballpark and being engulfed in a sea of Reds players at home plate. Not a bad way to cap off a day that sees his batting average end at .800 (4 for 5).

Two more positives for Ramon: He joined Smilin' Joe Randa (2005) as the only Red to end an opening day with a game-winning homer, and Heath Bell didn't tell all the kids watching at home that he was removed from the game with a case of crabs.�

Clayton Kershaw stands tall: Was the lanky lefty still smarting from his categorizations in our five different types of opening day starters post? Because he definitely pitched like he belonged with the franchise big boys, striking out nine Giants batters over seven innings in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory. While Tim Lincecum also pitched well, there was no question who the better starter was on Thursday night. Don't worry, L.A. fans, there's no question where Kershaw will be on next year's list.

Hey look, Matt Kemp!: The oft-criticized center fielder started his darkhorse MVP candidacy the right way, going 1 for 1 while drawing three walks, stealing one base and scoring both of Los Angeles' runs. Ri-who-na?

What oblique?: Jason Heyward wasn't the only player to nail headline-making homers on both this opening day and last. Our pal Curtis Granderson also went 2 for 2 on opening day home runs with the Yankees, blasting a seventh-inning pitch from Detroit's Phil Coke into the right-field second deck for New York's winning runs. If that weren't enough to prove that he was past the oblique injury that kept him doubtful up until the night before the game, Granderson also laid out to rob a hit from Will Rhymes in the first inning of the Yankees' 6-3 victory.

Atlanta Braves pitching:�They can't play 'em all against the Washington Nationals lineup, but the Braves are going to be just fine if they pitch like they did on Thursday. Five pitchers combined to hold the Nats to no runs and five hits in a 2-0 win, including a perfect eighth from co-closer Jonny Venters and a perfect ninth from co-closer Craig Kimbrel.

Hooray for the Halos: There's only one rule when you open your season in Kansas City and that's don't lose to the Royals. The Angels didn't, winning 4-2 behind a strong Jered Weaver effort, but they did use up the one homer that Jeff Mathis is allowed to hit this season.

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Bonnie Jill Laflin Joanna Krupa Ashley Olsen Danneel Harris Veronika Vaeková