O-Dog bonds with the fans

Orlando Hudson went deep in his first game as a Dodger at today's opener, and became the first Dodger to hit for the cycle since Wes Parker in 1970. Fans are going to like this new second baseman if he stays healthy all year: Gold Glove fielder, legitimate #2 hitter, nice guy. The Dodgers beat the Giants 11-1, with two home runs by Andre Ethier off lefthanded pitchers, including 45-year-old Randy Johnson. Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Before the Dodger Stadium opener, the Dodgers brought out their Hall of Fame left-hander, broadcaster Vin Scully, whose ceremonial first pitch to catcher Joe Torre was better than most of Johnson's....

Not since scoring 12 runs in 1972 have the Dodgers done this well in a home opener, chasing Johnson in a six-run fourth inning that was more than enough for [starter Chad] Billingsley. He scattered five hits in seven innings and struck out 11, including the last five batters he faced and six of the last seven.

Hudson, the newest Dodger regular, is 31 and from Darlington, South Carolina. He played the past three seasons for Arizona after breaking in with the Blue Jays. He's been an All-Star once and has won three Gold Gloves for defense.

Noted: Mayor Villaraigosa joined in the McCourt entourage on the field for the pre-game festivities and, once again, spent most of the game in the owners' box beside the field.

AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill via Yahoo