--When 2B Felipe Lopez and 1B Tony Clark each homered from both sides of the plate in the Diamondbacks' opener Monday, they were the first teammates to accomplish that feat since C Jorge Posada and OF Bernie Williams did it for the Yankees on April 23, 2000.
--KPNX-TV sportscaster Bruce Cooper, the father of Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day at Chase Field. 1B Tony Clark caught the ball, a strike, and hugged Cooper and his wife at the plate. Marquis Cooper and two others were lost at sea Feb. 28 when their boat capsized during a storm off the Gulf Coast of Florida. --RHP Max Scherzer opened the season on the disabled list, but the D-backs expect him to return for his first scheduled start April 14, the first time a fifth starter is necessary. Scherzer suffered shoulder soreness in his offseason throwing program and was delayed in spring training, although he hit 95 mph in his last spring outing.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11-23 -- The D-backs' record in exhibition games, the worst in franchise history. They were 12-18-1 last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I look forward to the challenge." -- Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew, who will bat third in the order against right-handers this season and second against lefties after leading off most of 2008.
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