[CRTsports.com]

The Royals started off the 2010 season right where they left off in 2009, with a win! They defeated the Baltimore Orioles today by a score of 5-3 in nine innings.

For the Royals, Blake Hawksworth(0-0 4.77) got the Opening Day start and struggled a bit but that was somewhat expected. He gave up 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings and two earned runs. He also struck out two and walked two today.

He was opposed today by Joel Pineiro(0-0 5.79) who happened to catch the injury bug in the middle of the game. In the middle of the fifth inning Pineiro left the game favoring his back and early reports show he has a herniated disk and is expected to be out five to six weeks.

But the main star of the night was rookie catcher Gene "Boom Boom" Marquez. In his first career at bat he laced a single and finished the game 2-4, had an RBI and scored a run. He also reached base on an error in the top of the 8th inning. Marquez had this to say after the game, "I was extremely nervous going into the game but after the first pitch I calmed down a bit. I had a bit of luck out there tonight but I couldn't ask for more in my first major league game."

The Royals will play two more here in Baltimore before heading home to Kauffman stadium for their Opening Day in Kansas City.

NOTES
2009 Rookie of the Year William Quattlebaum of the Royals went 3-5 in the lead off spot with one RBI...Eddie "Chappy" Pena lead the Orioles today by going 2-3, 2RBI, R and a BB...Brian Bannister(1-0 0.00) picked up the win for the Royals and Julio Farina(0-1 4.50) the loss for the Orioles.