Jays beat Royals in home opener
By Cathal Kelly
The weighty offence backing him broke things open in the second. An RBI single by Reed Johnson loaded the bases before Lyle Overbay slapped a hard grounder down the first-base line. A soon-to-be-ejected fan reached out and scooped up the fair ball just as Royals right-fielder Mark Teahen arrived on the scene. Three Jays scored on the ground-rule double, prompting a mid-diamond meltdown from Kansas City manager Buddy Bell. The four-run outburst ended starter Odalis Perez's evening. Though the Royals didn't know it yet, they were finished as well.
Burnett keeps it exciting
By Richard Griffin
There is indeed a fine line between adrenaline and nerves. Last night, manager John Gibbons was more concerned with the nerves than any overflow of adrenaline. There's always something special about the first game in front of the home fans. "You get in front of the home crowd, the nerves are always there a little bit until you settle in after a couple of innings," Gibbons said in the dugout prior to the game. "That's just human nature. I don't care how long you've been playing. Sometimes in the game of baseball, emotions can get in the way of your performance. It's still a game."
Whitt, Ashby share history
By Cathal Kelly
Thirty years after the first Blue Jay game, two former Toronto catchers who were part of the club on that snowy April 7 were back on the field last night.
Ernie Whitt and Alan Ashby came together to throw out the first pitch before last night's game.
Toronto Sun
Burnett provides thrills, chills in roller-coaster outing
By Rob Longley
It wasn't always easy last night, despite the rush of playing in front of the enthusiastic 50,125 for the opener. Burnett came out firing, but almost to a fault. So after loading the bases in the second inning, Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg came out for a chat.
Full house for Royal flushing
By Bob Elliott
The show started with a pre-game show seldom seen at Rogers Centre. With whizzing lasers -- lasers and rockets had been given up only by pitchers in 2006 -- a spotlight focussed on each player as he was introduced and headed toward either the first-base or third-base line.
Globe & Mail
Toronto turns on the power
By Robert Macleod
After watching two other teams open their baseball seasons, it was time for the Toronto Blue Jays to display their wares before their own hometown loyalists.
And the Jays did not skimp for the special occasion. There was a sellout of 51,125 at a festive Rogers Centre last night to greet the team, which began the year on the road with five games in two cities.
Meche in the Royals' mix leaves bitter taste
By Jeff Blair
Which is why the Blue Jays so dearly wanted to overpay for Meche, who, at 28, is younger than Burnett and was 11 games over .500 (55-44) when he signed his five-year, $55-million (U.S.) free-agent deal with the Royals. Burnett was 49-50 last off-season, when he signed his own five-year, $55-million contract with the Blue Jays and was 29 years old on opening day in 2006.
Blue Jays 9, Royals 1
By Robert Macleod
UNIMPRESSED: With Kansas City manager Buddy Bell, who was ejected in the second inning after losing an argument with one of the umpires. Bell may have had a point but he took the easy way out in this rout.
National Post
Blue Jays deliver in their home opener
By Shi Davidi
Overbay's grounder down the right-field line led to the ejection of Royals manager Buddy Bell for arguing with crew chief Gerry Davis. A fan scooped the ball up, which usually results in a ground-rule double, but Nauret ruled that Johnson would have scored from first base and allowed him to count.
Bell came out to argue, first with Nauret, and later with Davis, who gave him the boot.
Burnett feels the love
By John Lott
"Chills all over, man. It was great," Burnett said after the Jays dispatched the Royals 9-1. "First thing Gibby told me, he said, 'Get out of here and go enjoy that applause.' I appreciate it."
Extras
Box Score
Sunshine Girl
Weather
Toronto
Cloudy with sunny periods. 30 percent chance of wet flurries this afternoon. High plus 5. UV index 4 or moderate
Today's Game
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