Ichiro cheered at Tokyo Dome, Mariners top A´s 9-7 in opener
(WorldNews Japan)

TOKYO (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki drew the loudest ovation back home in Japan and Domingo Santana delivered the biggest hit, launching a grand slam that led the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 9-7 Wednesday in the Major League Baseball opener. The game at the Tokyo Dome marked the earliest opening day ever - the summer sport actually started on the last day of winter. No doubt, most fans in North America were sound asleep when Oakland’s Mike Fiers threw the first pitch at 5:36 a.m. EDT (6:36 p.m. local). A year after the Cubs’ Ian Happ homered on the very pitch of the season, the ball again was flying. Tim Beckham also homered as...