a line drive that went in and out of the glove of sliding right fielder

TORONTO -- DeMar DeRozan had clearly been itching for the start of the regular season. Like so many other veterans, he had to grind his way through exhibition games in training camp, gradually moving from 11 points in his first preseason game, to 15, to 20 and finally to 34 in the final warm-up game last week.His patience was rewarded Wednesday night as the Olympic gold medalist had 40 points in the Toronto Raptors 109-91 season-opening victory over the Detroit Pistons, his third career 40-point outing and just two off his career high.Preseason (stunk), he said. But youve got to do it and now the real deal is here and youre just trying to catch a rhythm.DeRozan made a career-high 17 field goals on 27 shots and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line, while Jonas Valanciunas was 10 for 15 from the field to go along with 11 rebounds. Valanciunas previous career high was 31, also against the Pistons, on Jan. 12, 2015.According to Elias Sports Bureau, the duo became the first teammates in NBA history with a 40-point game and a 30-point game in a season opener. DeRozan also broke Vince Carters opening-night franchise record of 39 points, set against the-then New Jersey Nets in 2003.I never keep track, DeRozan said of his record-breaking exploits. Somebody always informs me after the game.Valanciunas also played down his accomplishment, despite registering his second career 30-point game, as the Raptors led from the 5:13 mark of the first quarter and never looked back.Eighty-one games to go, he said. We should not get too excited; this is just the start.Tobias Harris had 22 points and Marcus Morris had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games against Toronto.Coach Stan Van Gundy was particularly irked with his teams defensive play in losing their season opener for the fifth time in seven years, especially the fact that Detroit was outrebounded 51-40. It didnt help that center Andre Drummond left the court after getting elbowed in the jaw by Valanciunas early in the first quarter, though he later returned.The rebounding was a major concern, he said. (Giving up) 54 points in the paint was a major concern and 29 free throw attempts, so that just means the team took it right at you.TIP-INSPistons: Henry Ellenson, Detroits first-round draft pick last June (18th overall) went scoreless in 2:10 of play, while second-round selection Michael Gbinije (49th overall), had two points in 2:10.Raptors: C Lucas Nogueira (ankle) sat out. . DeRozan started his franchise-record eighth straight season opener, breaking a tie with Carter. . First-round draft pick Jakob Poeltl became the first Austrian to play in the NBA. He finished with two points in 12:47 of court time. . Oct. 26 is the earliest date that Toronto has ever had a home opener. . The Raptors are 13-9 on opening night and have won four straight.HE SAID ITIts one thing to watch somebody on TV and see what he does every single night and actually being there and seeing how effortless it was. It was amazing, he was just getting to his spots, shooting over people and its like, `How does he do that?Rookie Pascal Siakam, drafted 27th overall in June, on the play of DeRozan. Siakam became the first Toronto rookie to start a season opener since Valanciunas in 2012, and rose to the occasion, hauling in nine rebounds to go along with four points in 21 minutes.UNITED NATIONSWith the draft-day additions of Poeltl (Austria) and Siakam (Cameroon), Torontos roster has players representing five countries other than the United States. Valanciunas (Lithuania), Cory Joseph (Canada), Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo (Brazil) round out the group. In their 21 seasons, the Raptors have had players representing 16 countries.ANOTHER DIMENSIONEvery fan at the Air Canada Centre was given a pair of 3D glasses. As the Raptors opened their season some of the players were jumping out of the Jumbotron to highlight some of the more spectacular plays from last season.UP NEXTPistons: Host Orlando on Friday in their home opener. Van Gundy is 6-1 against his former team since taking charge in Detroit.Raptors: Host Cleveland on Friday in an early season rematch of last years Eastern Conference Finals, won by the Cavaliers in six games. Air Force 1 Yellow On Sale . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Air Force 1 Blue Cheap . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Air Force 1 White Outlet . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Air Force 1 Blue Sale . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. SAN FRANCISCO -- Miami manager Mike Redmond got immediate results from his decision to put Justin Ruggiano in the leadoff spot. Ruggiano started the game with a home run in his third career start in the leadoff spot and added a two-run shot in the ninth that broke it open for the Marlins, who beat the Giants 7-2 Sunday for their 10th win in their last 11 games in San Francisco. "This guys got a lot of power," Redmond said. "We talked about our offence and trying to get guys in situations. We just led him off in hopes hed put together some good at-bats and it happened, he hit a couple of big home runs. It was great. He had a great day and was a huge part of the win today." Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) held the Giants in check into the seventh inning and Marcell Ozuna hit an RBI double and solo homer as the Marlins bested Matt Cain (5-4) and a struggling San Francisco bullpen to wrap up their first winning road trip of the season. The Marlins went 4-3 in Arizona and San Francisco after taking two of three at home against St. Louis as they try to put a rough 16-44 start to the season in the past. "Awesome road trip," Ruggiano said. "We played some tough teams. To come out with a winning record, first time this year, you can see things turn around a little bit. Its exciting to come to the ballpark. Were having fun." The defending World Series champion Giants dropped three of four at home to the team with the worst record in the National League, scoring just eight runs in the four games. The Giants went 3-4 on the homestand that started with three games against San Diego, marking their first losing homestand since going 3-7 from July 23-Aug. 2 last summer. San Fracisco had won or split the last 10 homestands. "You can try to make excuses but really we didnt get the job done," Cain said. "We didnt get some guys in when we needed to and we didnt throw the ball like we needed to. We had some games where we had the lead and we didnt finish it off. You have to kind of just say its over with and move on now." The Giants did end a 90-inning home run drought when Hunter Pence led off the seventh against Eovaldi with a drive over the left field fence for his 12th of the season to cut Miamis led to 3-2. It was San Franciscos first homer since a leadoff shot by Gregor Blanco on June 14 in Atlanta. The eight homerless games coincided with an injury to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who has been out since June 8 with a left foot strain. Sandoval homered the past two ddays on a rehab assignment with Class A San Jose and will be activated Monday for the series opener in Los Angeles.dddddddddddd "We need a lift right now," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Hes a big bat, presence in the lineup. Hopefully hell take a little pressure off the other guys trying to do too much. Any time youre missing a guy thats hitting in the heart of the order it does make it a little tougher. Hopefully he will spark this lineup." But Sandoval could only watch against Eovaldi and the Marlins. Eovaldi allowed just two hits in the first five innings -- a line drive that went in and out of the glove of sliding right fielder Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning and an infield hit between the pitchers mound and first base by Blanco in the fourth. Eovaldi was finally touched for a run in the sixth when pinch-hitter Tony Abreu tripled and scored on a groundout by Marco Scutaro. Eovaldis day ended when he walked Brandon Belt following Pences homer in the seventh. He allowed two runs and four hits in six-plus innings. Ryan Webb preserved the lead when he got pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias to hit into a 1-6-3 double play with runners on first and third to end the seventh. "Its really just a reaction play," Webb said. "As soon as I caught it, I just made sure I had the grip on it. Thankfully we were able to turn it." Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless eighth with help. Scutaro made the second out at second base when he tried to advance after Stanton threw to third following a single. The Marlins broke the game open with a four-run ninth against Jean Machi that featured homers by Ozuna and Ruggiano. It was Ruggianos second career multihomer game. Cain pitched fairly well after the leadoff homer by Ruggiano on the second pitch of the game. Cain struck out eight batters and walked none in six innings. The Marlins scored single runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Ozuna and sixth when first baseman Belt couldnt handle a hot shot by Logan Morrison for a run-scoring error that made it 3-0. NOTES: San Francisco optioned INF Nick Noonan to Triple-A Fresno after the game to make room for Sandoval. ... The Giants are uncertain whether RHP Chad Gaudin will be able to start Tuesday in Los Angeles after he took a line drive off his pitching elbow in his last start. ... Madison Bumgarner (7-4) will start the series opener against the Dodgers versus Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-3). ... The Marlins are off Monday before beginning a two-game home series Tuesday against Minnesota. ' ' '