2010 Opening Day Recap: This Game Is Easy. Phillies 11, Nationals 1

by David S. Cohen on Apr 5, 2010 4:40 PM EDT

There's so much to say about this game . . . and yet so little.

Let's start with the "so little" part of it. The Phillies had 13 hits, 21 total bases, 9 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The Nationals had 9 hits, 13 total bases, 3 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Guess who won? The team that clogs the bases and moves runners around will beat the team that does neither. It's a pretty easy game this baseball.

But moving on to the "so much" part of the recap. The Phillies broke their Opening Day curse of the Charlie Manuel era. Manuel hasn't won an opening day game since 2005, his first year with the Phillies. Since then, the Phillies are 0-4, being outscored by their opponents 33-15. As bad as the Phillies have been in April under Manuel, maybe this is a sign of good things to come?

Or maybe it's just a sign of what we can expect with Roy Halladay on the mound. The AL ace sure looked good today in his NL debut. After a shaky first inning in which he allowed a run on two hits, a stolen base, and a walk, Halladay settled down and looked masterful. Halladay threw 19 pitches in the first inning, but only 69 in the remaining 6. He struck out 9 and scattered just 4 more hits and 1 walk. The weak-hitting Nationals had no chance.

And maybe that's all this game is about. The Nationals are going to be horrible this year. John Lannan, their opening day starting pitcher, had the advantage in being a lefty facing the Phillies' lefty-heavy lineup. Yet Ryan Howard hit a two run home run against him, Chase Utley drew a walk, and Raul Ibanez singled. The Nationals' bullpen of no-names couldn't stop the bleeding either, allowing a grand slam to the weakest power hitter in the Phillies' lineup, Placido Polanco.

The Phillies, as they did today, are going to score runs this year. Roy Halladay, as he did today, is going to pitch very well this year, especially against the weaker teams in the NL. And almost every team that out-clogs and out-slams the other team is going to win, as the Phillies did today.

Wednesday is Cole Hamels' turn to keep the momentum going and try to give this April a different spin than Aprils past.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

On pace for 1,782 runs

isn’t it pretty to think so?

by Wet Luzinski on Apr 5, 2010 4:51 PM EDT reply actions

And that is how you start a season...

Thanks for 11 great seasons McNabb

by MeanGreen5 on Apr 5, 2010 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Braves 8 runs in 1 1/3

…eek?

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

by alcatraz0109 on Apr 5, 2010 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

yeah but it 8-5 now

by j reed on Apr 5, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Heyward hit a three-run home run in his first ML at bat with ATL. As he ran the bases, they flashed to his parents, embracing, jumping up and down, and then flashing him “I love you” sign in unison.

The guy scares the hell out of me, but this is pretty much exactly what I’d do if one of my sons did that.

by Wet Luzinski on Apr 5, 2010 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

hopeful he’ll get the Pujols treatment early and get walked alot

by j reed on Apr 5, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I watched that whole game with a big smile on my face. So glad baseball is back.

*sigh*

by zempf on Apr 5, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

That is one beautiful box score.

And I know it’s just one game, but ZOMG What if we have the 2007 J-Roll back this year? He could score 150 runs!

by taco pal on Apr 5, 2010 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

If he scores them in 150 different games, we will be 150-12!

/Morgan’d

by Wet Luzinski on Apr 6, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Couldn’t start off the season any better. Oh yeah, the Phils are off tomorrow

I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal

by JHobbs on Apr 5, 2010 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

Made the change.

by David S. Cohen on Apr 5, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice game today. Everything went as someone would have scripted.

The key to the season, however, pitches the next game.

by phil-er-up on Apr 5, 2010 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Your exactly right

by ssean2266 on Apr 6, 2010 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Halladay pitch count

I was listening to the radio, and I was wondering how long Manuel would leave Halladay. After all, apparently “likes to finish” or some such BS. After 6, I was hoping he’d get yanked, but I was a bit worried that would screw up his schedule since his count was so low.

I was very happy to see he only pitched through 7. Bastardo and Herndon could use some innings, though my inclination would have been to let Herndon try to pitch the remaining two innings himself. With Bastardo the only lefty right now, I’m not sure that using him in mop-up time is ideal. OTOH, he is still really green, and could use some seasoning in low risk conditions.

Beautiful day, great result. Here’s to many more just like it this year.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Apr 5, 2010 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

I love the Polanco in the 2 hole. Here’s to hoping Jimmy can keep his avg around .275 this year. With him and Polanco back to back getting one or both on base frequently is going to boost possible numbers for Utley and Howard all season.

Keep it up Phils!

by Ant on Apr 6, 2010 10:15 AM EDT reply actions