Post by Fish Troll on Apr 3, 2007 0:00:03 GMT -5
Phillies stunned by Braves in extras
Myers pitches well, but pair of Renteria homers spell doom
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- The 65-degree temperature enhanced the perfect venue, where 44,742 fans flooded Citizens Bank Park, but Game 1 of 162 didn't go as planned.
The Phillies began their season of high expectations with a 5-3 loss to the Braves on Monday. Edgar Renteria dampened the Opening Day enthusiasm with a pair of homers. The first one tied the game at 3 in the eighth inning, and the second one won it in the 10th.
Despite the pageantry in spring's unofficial arrival, and the delight fans showed in watching players stroll along the red carpet that stretched across the outfield -- and later, a Navy parachute team that delivered the ceremonial first ball -- the Phillies opened their 125th Major League season against an old National League East rival.
"It's always special," said Jimmy Rollins. "You always want to win that first one. It's like when I went to Oakland A's games [while growing up in Alameda, Calif.] I didn't care if they won any other game, as long as they won Opening Day. But they won some World Series, and hopefully we can get that going here."
Myers brought his ace game to his first career Opening Day start, lasting 7 2/3 innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine. The right-hander was pleased with all but four of the 106 pitches he threw to the Braves -- the two that landed beyond the fence, and the other two the final tosses of walks to Chipper Jones.
The second of Myers' two walks to Jones hurt worse, as Renteria sliced a two-run homer to right field and gave Atlanta a two-run lead. The Phillies struck back in the fifth when Rollins hit a solo home run to nearly the same spot, off John Smoltz.
"I thought I had [Rollins] beat with a fastball away and he hit a home run," Smoltz said.
After Ryan Howard and Chase Utley made the first two outs of the sixth inning, Burrell, who entered the game 1-for-23 against Smoltz in his career, ignited a rally with a single. Wes Helms followed with his first hit as a Phillie, a double over Andruw Jones' head in center.
Aaron Rowand gave Philadelphia the lead when a retreating Kelly Johnson dropped a bloop, though it was scored a single, scoring Helms.
Myers had found his rhythm by then, following Brian McCann's homer by retiring 13 of the next 14 batters. Myers got ahead 0-2 on Renteria as the crowd roared for a final strikeout. Since he got ahead with two changeups, Myers tried to mix things up.
"I thought I had him looking off-speed, so I tried to throw one by him," Myers said. "It could've been the right pitch, but I didn't locate it. He did what you're supposed to do with it. I got him out like that before and got him to pop it up. It wasn't the greatest pitch, but would I throw it again? Yeah, I think I would."
The fact that Philadelphia was unable to score in the seventh despite having runners on second and third with no outs only made things worse. Philadelphia went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Another rally was potentially squelched in the fourth inning when Howard and Utley began the frame with singles. However, first-base umpire Jerry Layne ruled that Utley's liner nicked Howard in the heel and ruled him out on interference. An argument by Manuel did no good.
"I thought I was more agile than that," said Howard, who maintained that the ball never touched him.
Renteria gave the Braves the lead for good in the 10th with a home run that followed a walk to Johnson.
Ironically, Renteria came to the plate looking to sacrifice Johnson into scoring position. Atlanta's All-Star shortstop fouled off two attempts before finding a 2-2 slider from Ryan Madson that stayed up.
"It was a slider away and it stayed up," Madson said. "He looked for a pitch he could elevate and hit it out. It was very disappointing, especially to be the guy that did it. I just feel bad for my teammates in letting them down. Hopefully, this is the last time I do it this season."
The Phillies weren't about to dwell on Monday's disappointment. Sure, it came after a lackluster Spring Training, and it brought continued awareness to the bullpen, which has been largely projected as the team's Achillies heel.
The big monkey on the Phillies' back is their problematic starts. Last season's 1-6 start led to a 10-14 April and constant reminders from Manuel that the team needed to enter the season ready to win, not just ready to play.
"We can't have a slow April," Rollins said. "We have to have a good April. Good can be one or two games over .500 or 10 games over .500. Right now, we're one back and we have to get ready for Wednesday."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Myers pitches well, but pair of Renteria homers spell doom
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- The 65-degree temperature enhanced the perfect venue, where 44,742 fans flooded Citizens Bank Park, but Game 1 of 162 didn't go as planned.
The Phillies began their season of high expectations with a 5-3 loss to the Braves on Monday. Edgar Renteria dampened the Opening Day enthusiasm with a pair of homers. The first one tied the game at 3 in the eighth inning, and the second one won it in the 10th.
Despite the pageantry in spring's unofficial arrival, and the delight fans showed in watching players stroll along the red carpet that stretched across the outfield -- and later, a Navy parachute team that delivered the ceremonial first ball -- the Phillies opened their 125th Major League season against an old National League East rival.
"It's always special," said Jimmy Rollins. "You always want to win that first one. It's like when I went to Oakland A's games [while growing up in Alameda, Calif.] I didn't care if they won any other game, as long as they won Opening Day. But they won some World Series, and hopefully we can get that going here."
Myers brought his ace game to his first career Opening Day start, lasting 7 2/3 innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine. The right-hander was pleased with all but four of the 106 pitches he threw to the Braves -- the two that landed beyond the fence, and the other two the final tosses of walks to Chipper Jones.
The second of Myers' two walks to Jones hurt worse, as Renteria sliced a two-run homer to right field and gave Atlanta a two-run lead. The Phillies struck back in the fifth when Rollins hit a solo home run to nearly the same spot, off John Smoltz.
"I thought I had [Rollins] beat with a fastball away and he hit a home run," Smoltz said.
After Ryan Howard and Chase Utley made the first two outs of the sixth inning, Burrell, who entered the game 1-for-23 against Smoltz in his career, ignited a rally with a single. Wes Helms followed with his first hit as a Phillie, a double over Andruw Jones' head in center.
Aaron Rowand gave Philadelphia the lead when a retreating Kelly Johnson dropped a bloop, though it was scored a single, scoring Helms.
Myers had found his rhythm by then, following Brian McCann's homer by retiring 13 of the next 14 batters. Myers got ahead 0-2 on Renteria as the crowd roared for a final strikeout. Since he got ahead with two changeups, Myers tried to mix things up.
"I thought I had him looking off-speed, so I tried to throw one by him," Myers said. "It could've been the right pitch, but I didn't locate it. He did what you're supposed to do with it. I got him out like that before and got him to pop it up. It wasn't the greatest pitch, but would I throw it again? Yeah, I think I would."
The fact that Philadelphia was unable to score in the seventh despite having runners on second and third with no outs only made things worse. Philadelphia went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Another rally was potentially squelched in the fourth inning when Howard and Utley began the frame with singles. However, first-base umpire Jerry Layne ruled that Utley's liner nicked Howard in the heel and ruled him out on interference. An argument by Manuel did no good.
"I thought I was more agile than that," said Howard, who maintained that the ball never touched him.
Renteria gave the Braves the lead for good in the 10th with a home run that followed a walk to Johnson.
Ironically, Renteria came to the plate looking to sacrifice Johnson into scoring position. Atlanta's All-Star shortstop fouled off two attempts before finding a 2-2 slider from Ryan Madson that stayed up.
"It was a slider away and it stayed up," Madson said. "He looked for a pitch he could elevate and hit it out. It was very disappointing, especially to be the guy that did it. I just feel bad for my teammates in letting them down. Hopefully, this is the last time I do it this season."
The Phillies weren't about to dwell on Monday's disappointment. Sure, it came after a lackluster Spring Training, and it brought continued awareness to the bullpen, which has been largely projected as the team's Achillies heel.
The big monkey on the Phillies' back is their problematic starts. Last season's 1-6 start led to a 10-14 April and constant reminders from Manuel that the team needed to enter the season ready to win, not just ready to play.
"We can't have a slow April," Rollins said. "We have to have a good April. Good can be one or two games over .500 or 10 games over .500. Right now, we're one back and we have to get ready for Wednesday."
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070402&content_id=1874610&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi
