The Phillies got blown out on Opening Day 8-0 thanks to the stacked lineup of the Boston Red Sox. Cole Hamels looked shaky, Jake Diekman got off to a bad start and the offense was non-existent. Unfortunately, this trend might be something we will become accustomed to over the next few months.
While the Phillies were routed in their opener, some former Phillies took the field with their new teams and did very well.
Jimmy Rollins started his first game at shortstop with another team after departing the Phillies as the all-time leader in hits. J-Roll went 2-for-4 with a steal, a walk and the game-winning two run home run to give the Dodgers the lead in the eighth. Rollins' replacement, Freddy Galvis, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
While the Phillies continue to search out options for the fifth starter spot, Kyle Kendrick took the hill on Monday as the Opening Day starter for the Rockies in Milwaukee against the Brewers. The former Phils back-of-the-rotation arm tossed seven shutout innings, giving up six hits while striking out six as well.
Sure, Kendrick tossing a shutout on Opening Day may add salt to the Phillies 8-0 wound, but a feel good story comes out of Kansas City as Ryan Madson took the mound for the first time since 2011. The former Phillies closer, now pitching for the Royals, allowed one hit and walked one in a scoreless inning during KC's 10-1 win over the White Sox. Former Phillies prospect Kyle Drabek made his debut for the White Sox, allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings of work.
In other news, Marlon Byrd went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts yesterday for the Reds in their 5-2 win over the Pirates.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
