Phillies Lose Opener to Braves; Myers Gives Up 3 Homers
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Brett Myers gave up 3 homers in two innings while Derek Lowe pitched a dominant 2 hit shutout for eight innings as the Atlanta Braves spoiled the Phillies Opening Night World Championship festivities with a 4-1 win on Sunday at Citizen’s Bank Park.
How good was Lowe? Eight innings, 97 pitches, 2 hits, 4 strikeouts and 13 ground balls as the Phils couldn’t jump-start their offense. They looked as if they left all of their offense on the field after their 9-7 slugfest loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday. The top of the Phillies lineup — the first 5 hitters, the meat of the order, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez; 2 for 19, with only 1 of those hits, Rollins’ sixth inning 2 out single, surrendered by Lowe.
Meanwhile, Myers gave up a 2 run homer in the first inning to catcher Brian McCann batting clean-up, and then surrendering solo shots to rightfielder Jeff Francoeur and centerfielder Jordan Schafer, playing in his first MLB game, in the second. Schafer went 2 for 3 for the game and drew Myers’ only walk. Tim Malcolm of Phillies Nation comments on Myers’ outing:
Myers didn’t match Lowe. The opening night starter allowed three home runs en route to a six-inning, four-run shellacking. The homers were bad pitches — a 2-0 changeup (his worst pitch), a turnpike fastball to a first-pitch swinger (Jeff Francoeur) and a softball to rookie Jordan Schafer.
Losing pitcher Myers, who is in the final season of a $25.75 million, 3 year deal, and under heavy pressure to produce, settled down after the 2nd inning scattering 4 hits and issuing only 1 walk. He threw 97 pitches in 6 innings while striking out 6. 4 Phillies relievers were perfect over the final 3 innings recording 4 strikeouts in the process.
Winning pitcher Lowe retired first 7 hitters he faced before catcher Carlos Ruiz broke the hitless string with a ground rule double to leftfield in the third inning. The he retired the next 10 Phillies in a row before Rollin’s 2 out single in the 6th. Then the next 7 Phils went down in order. Guess that’s why Lowe’s getting Big Bucks — $60 million over 4 years to be the ace of the Braves staff.
The Braves sent out lefthanded reliever Mike Gonzalez to pitch the ninth and AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi describes how the Phils finally notched a run for Yahoo sports:
The Phillies rallied. Pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett started the ninth with a double and scored on Jayson Werth’s one-out RBI single. [Rollins flied out to deep rightfield for the inning’s 1st out.] After Gonzalez walked Chase Utley to bring up the tying run, the hard-throwing lefty struck out Ryan Howard looking and Raul Ibanez swinging to end it.
Those reading this blog post are probably puzzed over manager Charlie Manuel’s flip-flopping of Werth and centerfielder Shane Victorino with Werth batting 2nd and Victorino batting 6th instead of Victorino 2nd, Werth 5th and Ibanez in the 6th spot. Apparently MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki was too!
The Phillies are 56-69-2 in openers. What the 2 is, I have no clue although they could have been suspended games. This opening loss extended their winless opener string to four straight.
For the results of Sunday’s two opening games, click here.
The Phillies and Braves have Monday off and resume play on Tuesday as ageless veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer is opposed by 23 year old Jair Jurrjens. Joe Blanton was originally slated to start due to the rest day on Tuesday, but the club opted to start Moyer against Jurriens instead with Blanton now scheduled to oppose 32 year old Javier Vazquez on Wednesday. 26 other teams open their season on Monday night.
For all of Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, click here and here.
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