21.   As part of the opening day festivities, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will throw out the first pitch.

22.   As the first pitch neared, Fill Sankey and his four sons made themselves comfortable on the outfield grass.

23.   Astacio promptly threw his first pitch to Lewis up near the eyes.

24.   Astacio regularly worked his fastball inside on lefthanders and away to righthanders and had the young Marlins hitters chasing the first pitch.

25.   Astros manager Larry Dierker was considering a pitching switch until two hours before the first pitch.

26.   At Candlestick Park, fans will get to throw out the first pitch and sit in the radio booth with Hank Greenwald.

27.   Atlantans who want to see the first pitch on television will have to get up early.

28.   Bagwell sent the first pitch from reliever Sean Lowe over the left-center-field wall for a three-run homer in the sixth.

29.   Ballpark regulars were convinced there was something special about last night from the first pitch.

30.   Batista settled down after a rocky first inning in which he surrendered a home run to Marcus Giles on the first pitch of the game.