Andre Ethier, the choir boy with the killer instinct, signed autographs after his warm-up exercises Wednesday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Under watchful eyes, Dodger starter Clayton Kershaw walks toward the bullpen after doing pregame stretches. 
Pirate starter Ross Ohlendorf was all eyes, like all of the Pirates in the line-up that night.So my first game of the year took place Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. It was the Dodgers and Pirates in a dozy kind of game that featured 12 (and maybe counting) walks. Clayton Kershaw, the Dodger young lefty touted as the second coming of Sandy Koufax, issued six and after throwing almost 110 pitches was gone in the 5th. Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates was more economical but was in slo-mo mode most of the night. The Buccos got off to a first-inning lead, thanks to a three-run homer by Garrett Atkins, who then rested the rest of the game. The Dodgers eventually tied it and had chances to take a lead late. But it was the Pirates, in the bottom of the 10th, who prevailed for a 4-3 win.
The weather for this time of year was gorgeous and the ballpark was, for Pittsburgh, jumping. The weather helped but in fact it was 'buck night', with bleacher seats going for a dollar and nachos, sodas, etc., the same. Despite the drawn-out play--the guy behind pointed out in the 6th inning that all other East Coast games were already in the 8th--lots of people stayed through the 9th. It was refreshing to feel a good vibe in a ballpark that deserves better than it has seen since its opening.
Fans were definitely into the game, but I was nonplussed to learn that the guy to my right, a Pittsburgh native, was a Marlin fan and the father and son to my left, also locals, were diehard Yankee fans. Are you kidding me?
