Opening Night a week away

JUPITER, Fla. — Opening Night is a week away, and the Marlins are expecting a fun filled and festive evening when they take on the Mets.

For the first time, Florida will be opening at night, with their 7:10 p.m. game on April 1. It will be the organization’s final opener at Sun Life Stadium. In 2012, the club is moving into their retractable-roof building, and be called the Miami Marlins.

The National Anthem will be performed by saxophoist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fame.

The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Mike Lowell, the Marlins former third baseman who retired last year after spending five seasons with the Red Sox. There will be a video tribute to Lowell, who remains one of the most popular all-time Marlins.

Also in pregame, Dave Van Horne, the Marlins radio play-by-play announcer on 790 The Ticket, will be honored. Van Horne is the 2010 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for a broadcaster. He will be inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24.

Marlins ace Josh Johnson will pitch in the opener against New York’s Mike Pelfrey.

– Joe Frisaro