Silly me…trix are for kids….I actually had some hope this year would start different. It was an amazing 80 degrees and sunny in Philly, opening day one of the best days of the year. I got up after only 3 and a half hours sleep used a vacation day and went to Philly to see my Phightins take on those annoying Atlanta Braves.
It was a pitchers duel from the start, Brett Myers looked good but John Smoltz had an answer. The game took its first turn in the 4th inning. Myers walked Larry Jones or Chipper as you may know him, then got out Andruw Jones. However, Brian McCann decided to be the killer in the inning with a2 run shot. The bottom of the inning began with some hope, Ryan Howard got the single, then Chase Utley stepped up and ripped one past the first baseman for what looked to be at least a 1st and 2nd situation but wait the ball hit Howard in the shoe and he was out. It looked bad at the time but I called work and well yeah it hit his foot, I should have known what was going to happen then, but again…HOPE was in my heart. Pat Burrell walked…Wes Helms hit a dribbler and Aaron Rowand lined out…inning over…still trailing.
Bottom 5, the new team leader Jimmy Rollins started a spark with a solo shot cutting th lead to 2-1…in the bottom of the 6th…with 2 outs Pat the Bat got a single and scored on a double by Wes Helms. the Next batter Aaron Rowand popped one up that Kelly Johnson lost in the sun and just missed plating Wes Helms and giving the Phillies the 3-2 lead. is it possible the bounces would go the phillies way? HA
Myers went out and got the Braves 1-2-3 and then walked to lead off the bottom of the 7th…Jimmy Rollins followed with a double and the Phillies had runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and VICTORINO HOWARD and UTLEY coming up, can you say BIG INNING? NO? NEITHER COULD THE PHILLIES. VICTORINO and HOWARD struck out and UTLEY grounded out, Phillies unable to get a hit when needed…
Charlie Manuel stuck with Myers though he was nearing 100 pitches on a hot opening day. Manuel looked like a genius as Myers struck out pinch hitter Craig Wilson and easily retired Kelly Johnson. Edgar Renteria came up and was quickly down 0-2. The crowd of 44 thousand plus rose to their feet cheering on MYERS just waiting for the strike out, except someone forgot to tell RENTERIA this year was supposed to be different. RENTERIA launched the 0-2 offering off the middle of the wall in dead center field…game tied at 3….exit BRETT MYERS. Matt Smith welcome toyour first appearance, you face Chipper Jones, who he got to ground out.
The Phillies failed to produce any threat in the 8th but the Braves had a chance in the 9th. Closer Tom Gordon was on the mound for the Phightins when with one out Brian McCann singled, Francoeur struck out
, Ryan Howard booted a ground ball that should have ended the inning. Chase Utley then saved a run with a diving stop on a shot up the middle by Ryan Langerhans, the bases were juiced. Pena stepped to the plate and Tom Gordon STRUCK HIM OUT….
Bottom 9 the crowd was hoping for the walkoff…up stpped Spring Training suprise Greg Dobbs nicknamed the Natural well he didnt hit the lights in fact just a simple ground out…then stepped Jimmy Rollins who struck out..with two outs Shane Victorino ripped a double. The Braves thought about pitching to Ryan Howard but after he didnt chase they intentionally walked him and Chase Utley came to the plate, he is familiar with some 9th inning heroics but not today, just a foul out to third.
Top 10…MAD DOG on the mound…Kelly Johnson was the first batter he faced and promptly walked him on 6 pitches….in stepped Edgar Renteria yeah remember the home run earlier? How about one better this time a 2-2 count..Braves lead 4-2…cue fans leaving but not me…I have hope…different year….MADSON recovered getting CHIPPER JONES to strike out…ANDRUW to strike out and Matt Diaz to pop out…
Bottom 10…up steps the maligned PAT BURRELL…the fans waiting for a glimmer…Burrell gets down in the count 1-2 but takes a ball fouls one off…and then strikes out…Wes Helms gets to 2-0 and flies out….AARON ROWAND first pitch swinging….grounds out…PHILLIES LOSE….I THOUGHT THIS YEAR WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN APRIL
