Kennedy on mound

Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

With fans cheering, Kennedy, diagnosed last May with a malignant brain tumor, walked across the first-base line and toward the mound with a cane in his left hand, then gave it to a Red Sox employee and climbed onto the dirt.

Standing in front of the pitcher’s rubber, a smiling Kennedy bounced the ball to newly elected Hall of Famer Jim Rice, who stood a few feet in front of the mound.

The former Red Sox left fielder then raised one finger as if to say “one more.” Kennedy, 77, then threw a ball that Rice caught.

Kennedy’s grandfather, John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, threw out the first pitch at the first major league game played at Fenway, on April 12, 1912.

•Beer sales banned: Beer and alcohol sales were banned at the Tigers-Blue Jays game in Toronto, a day after their season opener was delayed when unruly fans littered the field with baseballs and debris.

The clubhouses were cleared of booze, too, after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the liquor license at the Rogers Centre for three dates because of past infractions.

The Blue Jays’ 12-5 win Monday was delayed 9 minutes in the eighth inning when fans threw two baseballs in the direction of Detroit left fielder Josh Anderson and tossed a handful of paper planes and empty beer cups onto the field.

•Yankees tour White House: Even though they didn’t win the World Series, the New York Yankees got to go to the White House.

A group of 22 players, coaches and travel personnel was given a private tour that lasted about 90 minutes. Among those on the trip were Joba Chamberlain, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.

•Twins’ Redmond out: Minnesota Twins catcher Mike Redmond, who played at Gonzaga University, will miss at least one game because of a pulled groin.

Redmond was out of the lineup after hurting himself while running out a grounder on Monday.