By: Matthew Mack

Opening Day all around baseball started on Thursday. The Philadelphia Phillies started the season at Citizens Bank Park with a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta was sent home by the Phillies in back-to-back postseasons. However, the weather did not cooperate  and the game was postponed to Friday. Spencer Strider of the Braves would face Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, who signed a 4-year extension during spring training. In the bottom of the Fifth inning, Brandon Marsh got the Phillies and the whole stadium going with a 2-run home run to get the lead. The Opening Day party was really getting going from there. Wheeler pitched six string innings while not giving up a run, giving up five hits while striking out five. Strider was not too bad himself, giving up the long ball while striking out eight in five innings. It was up to the Phillies bullpen to hold and maintain the lead. Philadelphia has one of the best bullpens in baseball according to MLB.com. In this game, they did not pitch like it. Adam Duvall tied the game with a line drive double to score two in the seventh. In the eighth, seven runs crossed the plate as the bullpen lost the game for the Phillies on Opening Day. Philadelphia did not have enough to beat Atlanta falling nine-three.

Aaron Nola’s season debut was next as the second game of the season started. Ozzie Albies did not waste any time he homered in the first inning, putting the Braves up two- zero. The Phillies answered back in the bottom half, taking the lead as Nick Castellanos walked with bases loaded and Bryson Stott smacked one with bases loaded as well, scoring two on the play and taking the lead three-two. The Braves’ starting pitcher Max Fried was chased out of the game, pitching only two/thirds of an inning. After that, it was all Atlanta. Although, J.T. Realmuto slammed a home run in the third, which was just a blip on the radar for the Braves as the Phillies lost this one 12-to-four. Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna both homered for the Braves in the onslaught. Nola did not last either as he lasted four innings, giving up 12 hits, seven runs, three strikeouts, a walk, giving up two home runs in the process. The ‘pen was no better, giving five runs more in the massacre.

In the last game of the series, the Phils were still searching for their first win of the season. Ranger Suarez takes the ball for the Phils versus the Braves newly acquired starter from the Boston Red Sox Chris Sale. Albies did the thing again as he hit another two-run homer to start the game in the first inning. Kyle Schwarber answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo blast, closing the lead at one. Adam Duvall in the fourth inning smacks a base hit to extend the lead three-to-one. In the process, the Phillies challenged a play at second which was later overturned. With the bases loaded, the Phillies had a golden opportunity to do some damage in the bottom of the 5th with none out. Schwarber pulled a pitch which grounded up the middle for double play. In it, a run scored which pulled the deficit to one again. In the seventh, the Phils were about dead until the Phillies challenged another play. This time, it was double play. Out at second was recorded, but Johan Rojas just beat the throw at first, keeping the inning alive. That second life gave the Phils three runs in the process, Trea Tuner knocked in a run and Alec Bohm knocked in two. Atlanta got a run in the eighth with Albies lining one to right. This time, the Phillies bullpen did their job. Striking out seven in four innings, just giving up one run. Suarez held his end as he too, struck out seven, giving up a walk, three runs on three hits. Jose Alvarado sealed the deal with the save and the win for Philadelphia five-to-four. The first win of the season for the Fightins

In the series, Braves catcher Sean Murphy left the second game with an oblique injury after a swing in his at bat. Bryce Harper took a tumble at the camera well as he was trying to field a fly ball in foul territory. He was fine but did not play the third game. The off day was planned. 

Overall, baseball is back and any fan would be excited to see this team back in hopes of another postseason run. Let’s be clear, this series is only one of many. Three games were played out of 162. We have a long way to go. To bail on this team because they lost two/three games is wrong. This series didn’t go right at first and that’s fine. It’s a long season. Relax. It’s late March going into April, not October!!