Opening Day: Nats vs. Phillies
A live look at Opening Day.
Opening Day: Nats vs. Phillies
Todd Zolecki
Phillies lose, 11-6.
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It's getting out of control.
The Nats just took a 10-6 lead in the top of the ninth. Nick Johnson doubled to center field with one out. The ball hit off the wall and bounced perfectly into Shane Victorino's throwing hand. Victorino threw a one-hopper to Jimmy Rollins, who threw home. But Rollins' throw was off target and allowed Lastings Milledge to score. Johnson scored from third on Carlos Ruiz's throwing error to make it 8-6. Two more runs have since scored and Tom Gordon is out of the game. Fans aren't happy.
Rollins' error in the fifth allowed a run to score. A better throw in the ninth could have gotten Milledge at the plate. It's not often Rollins allows two runs with his defense.
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Phillies fans just broked out the "MVP! MVP!" chants for Jimmy Rollins, who just hit a game-tying two-run homer to left-center field to make it 6-6.
Who needs pitching?
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Carlos Ruiz's double to left-center field in the seventh scored Jayson Werth from first to make it 6-4. The Nats have just pulled righthander Joel Hanrahan for lefthander Ray King, who will face pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins.
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Lastings Milledge hits a two-run homer to left off righthander Ryan Madson in the sixth to make it 6-2. Chase Utley homered in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-3.
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Brett Myers struggles in the fifth as the Nationals take a 4-2 lead. Myers hit a batter and walked a batter as the Nats took a one-run lead, but the fourth run scored when Jimmy Rollins couldn't handle a routine ground ball hit to him. It would have been the third out.
Myers has been lifted for pinch-hitter So Taguchi in the bottom of the fifth.
Myers certainly didn't have the day he had hoped. In five innings, he allowed five hits, four runs (three earned runs), two walks and two hit batters. He struck out two. He threw 89 pitches, 57 for strikes.
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The Phillies have taken a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Chase Utley hit a bloop single to center, Ryan Howard singled to left-center to put runners at the corners and Pat Burrell singled to left to score Utley. It started to rain during the inning, which sent some fans scrambling. Guess they didn't look out the window this morning.
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Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning and scored on Chase Utley's sacrifice fly to center field to hand the Phillies a 1-0 lead.
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Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter threw out the first pitch and made it a strike to home plate, which officially makes him a much better mayor and human being than Cincinnati's Mike Mallory. But I've got one complaint. Tucking in the jersey? Untucked. Definitely untucked.
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We're just a few minutes away from first pitch and the Phillies just lined up on the field for introductions.
Pat Burrell and Charlie Manuel, a source of frustration for fans in the past, received very nice ovations. Adam Eaton and Wes Helms, a current source for fan frustrations, did not. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and Chris Coste also received nice ovations.
Keep checking back for updates during the game.
jimmymack, i usually try to beat upbeat but all the warts showed themselves on the first day. Piching, Ks, and ability to get hitting outside of the big 3 (i know some of the other guy hit later, but they could have busted this game open if they would have gotten big hits in the first few innings). Todd, enjoy the easy night b/c all you have to do for tomorrows article is copy and past last years opener. even the pitchers names stayed the same.— timm- Todd: Is it a coincidence that the ad at the bottom of the comments page is for St. Jude's Store?— Joe in Haddonfield
- Todd: Is it a coincidence that the ad at the bottom of the comments page is for St. Jude's Store?— Joe in Haddonfield
- Thank God it's a long season. How far off is Lidge? Let's hope they score 10 on Weds... I still believe, JM.— John in LA
- Lidge is supposed play this weekend. On that note......J.C. Romero for set-up man! Flash Gordon for retirement! I was thrilled with how Chase & J.Roll hit. Neither did very well in Fla.— Norma
- OK, I know I'm just an ignorant female, but can someone explain to me why Flash got the loss? I thought whoever gave up the lead, got the loss. And we were down a run or two when Brett was pulled.— Norma
- OK, I know I'm just an ignorant female, but can someone explain to me why Flash got the loss? I thought whoever gave up the lead, got the loss. And we were down a run or two when Brett was pulled.— Norma
- First thing I said when I saw Nutter walking to the mound...OMG, he he has his jersey tucked in. The pitch looked good. I think he had more movement on his ball than Flash. BTW, as the note on the side offers...I'd like to report abuse...of Phils fans by the Phil's closer.— phillybob
- Norma, it was 6-6 when Flash came in. Whenever a game is "re-tied" or the lead changes, the current pitchers become the pitchers of record. I married an "ignorant" (in baseball terms) female, and she now runs circles around males when games are on at parties or get togethers. Ask away...more power to ya.— phillybob
- Is "Flash" on the DL list yet?? ( like last year??)
- Flash Gordon is a bum. He has let this team down over and over again. He's another waste of $7.5 million. Another tribute to our Hall of Fame general manager.— jrquixote
- Where is Jose Mesa when you need him???— Casey
- Flash Gordon is a $7.5 million waste of money and an ongoing tribute to the futile efforts of our illustrious GM to identify and obtain pitching.— Nick from the Northeast
- So sad So sad... The league is to good this year for a phluke to happen again. So sad So sad... P.G. sold you a dream. So sad So sad.... All of YOU spent your off-season believing. So sad So sad... History always repeats itself.— Truth
- Thanks phillybob! I totally forgot about the score being tied up after Myers was pulled. I must have been too busy looking for the beer vendor. LOL! And why don't you invite your wife to this blog?! We need more women!!!!— Norma
