The vendors sold peanuts, hot dogs and tea. Blue sky replaced gray smog, and a breeze in left field unfurled China's red flag alongside the Stars and Stripes.

It was opening day for baseball in China yesterday.

And the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers left the nearly sellout crowd of 12,224 at the new Olympic venue in Bejing with an inconclusive outcome — a 3-3 tie in an exhibition game in major league baseball's first foray into China.

Not that the result proved all that troubling. Most fans knew so little about the day's events that nobody booed when play was called after nine innings. And forgive them if they didn't sing along to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

"It's historic if nothing else," commissioner Bud Selig said.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said all the hoopla made things feel closer to a regular-season game.

"It took on a little bit more than an exhibition game for me today," he said. "In spring training you go out there and you basically practice even though you play a game. There was the attention, the number of media, the number of questions involving being here in China. That type of atmosphere made me feel it was more than just an exhibition game."

ANGELS

LACKEY OUT FOUR WEEKS

Los Angeles will start the season without ace John Lackey, who is out three to four weeks because of a strained right triceps.

Lackey underwent an MRI in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday that confirmed Dr. Lewis Yocum's diagnosis.

The right-hander has already started rehabilitation and will not participate in any baseball activities until he is re-evaluated, the team said yesterday.

Lackey made his first spring training appearance last Monday, pitching 1 2/3 innings against Oakland. He said he threw without pain.

Lackey won 19 games last season and led the AL with a 3.01 ERA.

RED SOX

DICE-K'S WIFE GIVES BIRTH

Daddy Dice-K will be heading home to Japan after all — maybe to start the earliest season opener in baseball history.

The Red Sox right-hander's wife gave birth yesterday to their second child, their first son. That allows Daisuke Matsuzaka to travel with his teammates to Tokyo on Wednesday.

"I think it's a relief for Dice-K knowing that there was uncertainty certainly up until early this morning," Boston pitching coach John Farrell said. "So the fact that she's healthy and the baby's healthy, this is one thing that he can put behind him now."

Matsuzaka is expected to start one of the regular-season games in Tokyo on March 25 and 26 against Oakland. Both teams will play two exhibition games against Japanese pro teams before then.

With ace Josh Beckett expected to stay behind because of a back injury and Curt Schilling sidelined with a shoulder injury, Matsuzaka could start the opener although the team has made no announcement.

There was a chance Dice-K would not accompany his teammates on the flight if his wife, Tomoyo, had not given birth by Wednesday. The baby was born yesterday morning, the Red Sox said. They did not release his name or the location of the hospital.

SHORT HOPS

Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir, slowed by a left elbow strain, won't start on opening day after having his first scheduled spring training start today pushed back a few days. ... Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera said he will appeal a three-game suspension, while first baseman Shelley Duncan said he has not decided, for their roles in the spring-training fight between New York and the Tampa Bay Rays.