Record home run barrage signals start of high-octane MLB season

NEW YORK - Bryce Harper bowed to his new fans, the World Series champion Boston Red Sox drew cheers far from Fenway Park and the great Mariano Rivera threw one more strike from the mound at Yankee Stadium.

Then it was time to play home run derby on MLB's record-setting opening day on Thursday.

Joc Pederson and the Los Angeles Dodgers went deep eight times, and the total of 48 homers across the majors was the most ever to start a season.