Hamels Homer Happy As Boston Blasts Phillies

GAME RECAP: Red Sox Dominate Phillies 8-0

The Red Sox looked just fine without Cole Hamels in their rotation Monday in a convincing 8-0 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Dustin Pedroia homered twice and Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez each homered once in five innings against Hamels, who has been linked to the Red Sox in trade speculation since the offseason. Ramirez tied a bow on the afternoon when he hit a broken-bat grand slam against Phillies left-hander Jake Diekman in the ninth. "We know just getting out of the gate is important to us," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "One game does not make for that. Still, we understand the importance of April. Teams that have been successful here and gone deep into a postseason have gotten off to a good start, and we know that's important to us." Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz looked every bit an ace against the Phillies. He allowed three hits, walked just one and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings. "It was good," Buchholz said. "There was a lot of building up to this moment. I felt good all spring. It's just another step, I guess. I was a little more anxious today than I have been for [other] first starts given all the attention to it. After the first couple pitches, it felt like a normal game." "Any time you start the season, you want to get that first one, not only for your teammates, but for the organization," Hamels said. "It's not the case. It definitely didn't go the way we envisioned. I know I'm one of the big culprits of that."

OTHER NOTES FROM GAME TIME:

• This is the first time the Phillies have been shut out on Opening Day since March 31, 1998, when they lost in 14 innings to the Mets at Shea Stadium, 1-0. Ricky Bottalico took the loss, allowing the game-winning hit to pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo. It is the eighth time they have been shut out on Opening Day in franchise history.
• It was the eightieth shutout loss for the Phillies in franchise history. The eight-run difference was their most lopsided of those eighty. They lost 7-0 to the New York Giants in 1902 and Atlanta Braves in 1987.
• General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said last month that "we're not going to score a lot of runs." The offense held true to form -- its .641 OPS in Spring Training was the lowest in baseball -- managing just three hits against Buchholz in seven innings. "We didn't have great at-bats," Phillies right fielder Grady Sizemore said. "Not bad at-bats. We just didn't square a lot of balls up. [Buchholz] did a good job of moving it around and mixing it up. He was locating the curveball, throwing it for strikes and not leaving a lot of heaters over the plate. It's tough. It's a battle."
• Hamels is a slow starter, and his early-season troubles continued Monday. He allowed four solo home runs in five innings to take the loss. Hamels is 1-7 with a 5.13 ERA (30 earned runs in 52 2/3 innings) in 10 career games to start a season. "I think it's just kind of the way that's gone," Hamels said. "Sometimes that's the situation, but it's nothing that I'm trying to go out and purposely do."
• Harang signed a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason to provide a little more depth to the Phillies' rotation. He became much more important with Cliff Lee's nearly certain season-ending elbow injury. Harang battled back problems early in camp, but he finished the Grapefruit League schedule without further issues. The best-case scenario for the Phillies might be that Harang pitches well and becomes an attractive trade chip before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
• Porcello is coming off a career year, as he established personal bests in wins (15), ERA (3.43) and innings (204 2/3). The righty looked solid during Spring Training, and he has looked comfortable blending in with his new teammates. This is the earliest Porcello has ever pitched in a season. He pitched the fourth game five times for the Tigers and the third game once.
• Red Sox cleanup man Hanley Ramirez has feasted against Harang in his career, going 10-for-29 with five homers and seven RBIs. David Ortiz has had similar success, going 5-for-11 with three doubles and a homer. Phillies leadoff man Ben Revere has done well against Porcello, going 7-for-19.

NEXT GAME:

After the Red Sox's revamped lineup cruised to an 8-0 Opening Day win on Monday, Game 2 of this three-game series features two veteran right-handers making debuts for their new team. Rick Porcello, who is being counted on to be a big part of Boston's starting rotation, will make his first career start for someone other than the Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Aaron Harang makes his Phillies debut in the second game of the three-game series. Harang went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 33 starts last season with the Braves. The well-traveled Aaron Harang pitched for the Athletics, Reds, Dodgers, Padres, Mariners, Mets and Braves before coming to the Phillies.

PHILS PHACTS:

First Pitch – Chase Utley still rules. But Julie Kramer isn't bad, either. She threw a strike to home plate for her ceremonial first pitch before the Phillies opened their 2015 season Monday at Citizens Bank Park. Kramer, who is from Tabernacle, N.J., is a cancer survivor who appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in December, where she discussed her inspiring battle with Stage 4 synovial sarcoma. Kramer told DeGeneres' folks that she was a huge Utley fan, so DeGeneres had Utley surprise her on set with gifts and the invitation to come to as many Phillies games as she wanted this season. "You rule!" Kramer said that day. Kramer was on the field before Monday's game with DeGeneres' crew, which was filming her big day for an upcoming show. Kramer and Utley chatted for a few minutes prior to the game starting.

Hamels Not Concerned – Cole Hamels has been saying all the right things since he told USA Today in February that he wants to win and "I know it's not going to happen here." Hamels could have made an unspoken statement about his future Monday afternoon, if he had dominated the Red Sox on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park. He has been linked to the Red Sox since the offseason because the Phillies are rebuilding and covet Boston's top prospects, although the Red Sox have shown no inclination to give the Phillies what they want. But Hamels struggled in the 8-0 loss. He allowed five hits, four runs, three walks and four home runs with six strikeouts in five innings. It was just the second time in his career he had allowed four home runs in a game. The only other time came April 23, 2010, in Arizona. Is there any reason to be concerned? Of course not. Hamels is a slow starter. He fell to 1-7 with a 5.13 ERA (30 earned runs in 52 2/3 innings) in 10 career games to begin a season. "I think it's just kind of the way that's gone," Hamels said of his early-season struggles. "Sometimes that's the situation, but it's nothing that I'm trying to go out and purposely do." Hamels allowed a solo home run to Dustin Pedroia in the first inning and a solo home run to Mookie Betts in the third inning. Ironically, Betts is one of Boston's players Philadelphia has coveted most, although there is probably no chance the Sox will part with Betts at this point. Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez each hit solo homers in the fifth inning to hand Boston a 4-0 lead. Pedroia and Betts hit fastballs for their homers. Ramirez sent a 0-1 changeup deep. "Cole didn't get away with any high fastballs," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "His command was not sharp at all." So Hamels will head back to the ballpark Wednesday in preparation for his next start Saturday night against the Nationals. He knows one game does not make a season. But the Phillies are expected to struggle this season, and the days Hamels pitches are expected to be the days with their best chances to win. Hamels said he feels no pressure in that. "No matter if we're veterans, young guys or have a couple years in the league, it takes a team to win a ballgame and it takes a team to lose a ballgame," Hamels said. "I just want to be accountable for what I do and today didn't go the way I planned it. I wasn't able to make the right pitches at the right time."

Not A Good Outing – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg noted late in Spring Training that he has not seen the sharpness or velocity he expects from hard-throwing relief pitchers Ken Giles and Jake Diekman. Giles, who had an 8.00 ERA in 10 Grapefruit League appearances, has been dealing with a strained back, although the Phillies said he is healthy. His fastball hit just 94 mph Monday. Diekman, who had an 8.18 ERA in 10 spring appearances, allowed a grand slam to Hanley Ramirez in the ninth inning Monday in an 8-0 loss to the Red Sox on Opening Day. "That's the best stuff I've seen all spring," Sandberg said about Diekman. "In Spring Training, he was throwing 94, 95. He was 97-99 today. His fastball was there." But Diekman allowed a single to Allen Craig, walked Mookie Betts and walked Mike Napoli to load the bases. Ramirez hit an 0-2 slider for the grand slam. Ramirez broke his bat on the pitch. "I felt good," Diekman said. "But when pitches are belt high, they're going to hit them no matter what. I just need to get the ball down more. I mean, everything was up. That slider was pretty much right where it needed to be for a homer. It was hung really, really bad."

The Man Who Dominated Opening Day – The Phillies know their limitations offensively, but they still hoped for a respectable showing Monday on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park. Instead, they managed just three hits in an 8-0 loss to the Red Sox. It was their first shutout loss on Opening Day since 1998, when they lost 1-0 in 14 innings to the Mets at Shea Stadium. It was the Phils' eighth shutout loss on Opening Day in franchise history, and the worst of the bunch. They lost 7-0 to the New York Giants in 1902 and Atlanta Braves in 1987. "I mean, it's one game," Phillies right fielder Grady Sizemore said. "We've got a long season to go. We'll bounce back and be ready for Wednesday." Boston starter Clay Buchholz fanned nine over seven shutout frames, and then Junichi Tazawa and Tommy Layne allowed just one walk over the final two innings. Ryan Howard hit a double to left-center field with two outs in the fifth inning to snap Buchholz's no-hit bid. Carlos Ruiz and Sizemore hit back-to-back singles in the seventh inning to get something going, but Cody Asche hit into a fielder's choice and Freddy Galvis swung weakly and missed a 0-2 fastball outside the strike zone to end the inning. The Phillies entered the season knowing scoring runs consistently was going to be a challenge, but Monday's performance against Buchholz underlined those concerns. The Phillies posted a .641 OPS in Spring Training, which was the lowest mark in baseball. "You can't put any stock into spring," Sizemore said. "It's one game." "There will be a chance to have some different lineups and try some different things with some different looks," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I'm just looking at this on the offensive side of things as just one game out of 162."

Off To The Bullpen – Dustin McGowan has started in the past, but he is expected to be a relief pitcher for the Phillies. The Phillies signed him Saturday after the Dodgers released him last week. McGowan, 33, went 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA in 53 appearances (eight starts) last season with Toronto. He is 25-27 with a 4.57 ERA in 158 appearances (68 starts) over parts of seven seasons with the Blue Jays. "I don't know how much starting I can do anymore," said McGowan, who had a 6.75 ERA in seven Cactus League appearances. McGowan cited right-shoulder surgeries in 2008 and '10 and a shoulder injury in '13 as reasons why he is best suited for a full-time bullpen spot. He had a 3.35 ERA in 45 relief appearances last season.

One Less Option – The Padres made a last-minute blockbuster trade Sunday when they acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the Braves. Poof, just like that, the Phillies crossed off another potential landing spot for Jonathan Papelbon. Baseball sources Monday said the Padres expressed marginal interest in Papelbon a few months ago, but nothing recently. The Braves and Padres matched up well. The Braves cleared Melvin Upton Jr.'s entire contract from the books. He is owed $46.3 million. The Padres moved Carlos Quentin, who is owed $11 million this season, and Cameron Maybin, who is owed $16 million over the next two seasons. The Braves are paying their contracts. Simply put, the Padres were willing to eat Upton's contract to acquire the best closer in baseball. The Braves were willing to eat Quentin's and Maybin's contracts to acquire some young talent and a Draft pick. The Braves received pitching prospect Matt Wisler, whom MLBPipeline.com considered the Padres' fourth-best prospect, and outfielder Jordan Paroubeck, whom San Diego drafted in the second round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. The Braves also received the 41st overall selection in this year's Draft.

Needing A Little Extra – The Phillies had no major surprises on their Opening Day roster, but manager Ryne Sandberg on Monday explained a few of the team's final decisions. The Phillies chose to carry an extra reliever rather than an extra bench player. The team does not need a fifth starter until Sunday. "Early in the season with the possible pitch counts coming into the season, it's nice to have an extra arm in the bullpen," Sandberg said. The eight-man bullpen includes Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles, Jake Diekman, Justin De Fratus, Luis Garcia, Jeanmar Gomez, Cesar Jimenez and Dustin McGowan, whom the team signed to a contract Saturday after the Dodgers released him last week. "McGowan was a guy we actually targeted over the winter," Sandberg said. The Phillies chose Jeff Francoeur for a bench job, despite other outfielders in camp outperforming him. He joins Darin Ruf, Cameron Rupp, Cesar Hernandez and Andres Blanco on the bench. "A need for a right-handed bat," Sandberg said, explaining Francoeur's spot on the roster. Francoeur also plays well as a corner outfielder. The Phillies like his intangibles in the clubhouse, too. It could be a very long season for the Phillies, so a guy like Francoeur could help the club's young players survive it. Cord Phelps (.870 OPS) had a much better spring than Hernandez (.482 OPS) or Blanco (.601 OPS), but Hernandez was out of options and the Phillies wanted a true shortstop on the bench.

THE BEGINNING

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now tied for last in the NL east at 0-1 but they are also only one game behind first place. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 11-17-0 on this day.

Welcome To Opening Day!

GAME RECAP: No Game Yesterday

Phillies took the day off to rest up for the season opener tonight against the Boston Red Sox.

NEXT GAME:

The Red Sox and Phillies will resume a rivalry that began when they faced each other in the 1915 World Series with an Opening Day matchup at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. A more recent connection between the franchises centered on Phillies ace Cole Hamels. Despite spring-long speculation that Boston might trade for the left-hander, he remains in red pinstripes and will start against Boston's Clay Buchholz. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. And there's Shane Victorino, a star of the Phillies run of five straight division championship starting in 2007. Now the Red Sox right fielder, he'll be getting his first at-bats in Citizens Bank Park since being traded to the Dodgers at the Deadline in 2012. Both teams are coming off last-place finishes in 2014, but enter the new season with dramatically different expectations. The Red Sox have made extensive roster renovations, not to mention an up-close-and-personal view of what's possible after winning the World Series in 2013 a year after finishing last. To bolster their chances they shelled out $95 million to sign Pablo Sandoval and $88 million for Hanley Ramirez to reinvigorate their offense. The club also signed Rusney Castillo for $72.5 million last year, and the outfielder will start the year in the Minors. Buchholz is the only starter remaining from Opening Day 2014. Rick Porcello was acquired from Detroit and Wade Miley from Arizona in the offseason while Joe Kelly came from St. Louis before the Trade Deadline last season. "I think there's a lot of excitement, and rightfully so, about the additions [general manager Ben Cherington] has made to our team," manager John Farrell said. "This is a talented group." In addition to revamping the rotation, the Red Sox have addressed concerns about an offense that had a .684 OPS last season; only the Mariners finished lower in the American League. "There's no question our lineup is much more deep," Farrell added. "It's got more power potential. It's got a chance to be a dynamic-type lineup." The Phillies, on the other hand, have been upfront that they view this as a rebuilding season. Club president Pat Gillick candidly said on multiple occasions that he doesn't expect the Phillies to contend in 2015 or '16. "I don't think it's in the cards. I think somewhere around 2017 or 2018," he said. That's why, despite hitting fewer home runs (125) than any season since 1997, the Phillies traded Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins, who combined to hit more than a third of them. But those deals netted Minor League pitchers Zach Eflin, Tom Windle and Ben Lively who, the Phillies hope, can help form the basis of their next great rotation. For the series finale, players from both teams will wear replica 1915 caps, commemorating the centennial of the Phillies first World Series appearance. Even though the opening of a new season is a time to look forward, in this case it will be fun to reflect a little on the past as well.

PHILS PHACTS:

Phillies Finalize Roster – The Phillies selected the contracts of outfielder Jeff Francoeur and infielder Andres Blanco on Sunday, as they finalized their roster ahead of Monday's Opening Day game against the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia also optioned outfielder Jordan Danks to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, placed right-handers Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Pettibone on the 15-day disabled list and placed left-hander Mario Hollands on the 60-day DL. Those moves left the club with a 25-man roster, featuring 12 pitchers and 13 position players. The Phillies will start the year with a four-man rotation, since they won't need a fifth starter until April 12. The eight-man bullpen will include righty Dustin McGowan, who was signed on Saturday after being released by the Dodgers. Francoeur came to camp as a non-roster invitee, after signing a Minor League deal in November. The 10-year veteran, who played 10 games for the Padres last season, won a job despite hitting .175 (7-for-40) with 10 strikeouts this spring. Blanco made the club as a backup infielder with the ability to handle shortstop. He played in 25 games at short, second base and third base for the Phillies last year, going 13-for-47 (.277) with one home run. Blanco, who turns 31 this coming Saturday, has also played for the Royals, Cubs and Rangers over seven big league seasons. The Phillies' Opening Day roster is as follows: Pitchers (12): RHP David Buchanan, Justin De Fratus, Luis Garcia, Ken Giles, Jeanmar Gomez, Aaron Harang, McGowan, Jonathan Papelbon and Jerome Williams; LHP Jake Diekman, Cole Hamels and Cesar Jimenez; Catchers (2): Carlos Ruiz and Cameron Rupp; Infielders (7): Cody Asche, Blanco, Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez, Ryan Howard, Darin Ruf and Chase Utley; Outfielders (4): Francoeur, Odubel Herrera, Ben Revere and Grady Sizemore.

Opening Day Memories – Charlie Manuel signed his first professional contract in 1963, and since then, he's had an opportunity to see Opening Day from a variety of angles -- as a player, coach and manager in both the Minor Leagues and the big leagues, and as a scout, consultant and special assistant. Now a senior advisor, Manuel is one of three former Major League players currently employed by the Phillies with at least 50 years in baseball, along with Dallas Green and Larry Bowa. As the Phillies prepare to embark on the 132nd season in franchise history when they play the Red Sox on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, here are their Opening Day stories: For Manuel, it all started at Wytheville, Va., the home of the Twins' Class A Appalachian League affiliate. He was 19 years old. "First time up, I hit a home run that went 318 feet down the left-field line," Manuel remembered. "I swung late on it and it hit right in the corner, cleared it by about six or eight inches, maybe, just inside the pole. A guy named Roger Nelson was pitching. He definitely had the ball by me, but it was short down there and I hit it for a home run." Manuel's first Opening Day in the big leagues came in 1969, for the Twins at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minn. Manuel went hitless in his only at-bat as a pinch-hitter. In 1976, he began a six-year career in Japan, where he blossomed as a slugger, hitting 189 homers. "In Japan, it seemed like every year on Opening Day I hit a home run," Manuel said. "People were out. It was the spring of the year, and they had the orange blossoms blooming and you could smell everything about it, but there was a little chill in the air. Our ballpark was always filled up, like 70,000 people there. There might have been a year or two where I didn't hit a home run on Opening Day, but it seemed like I always did." Manuel's favorite Opening Day, though, came in 2009, a year after the Phillies won the second World Series in franchise history. "Special," Manuel said. "That was the best one. Raising the flag. The fans out there. Also, when we were winning the division [five straight seasons] and I'm up on that concourse and I'm raising the flag and the fans are hollering and we've got the carpet out, and you can smell the food -- that's tremendous. But 2009, definitely, best in baseball for me." Bowa is now the bench coach for Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. At age 69, he still throws batting practice daily. But when he played his first game for Class A Spartanburg in 1966, Bowa thought his career might be over before it even got started. Bowa's mother and father had come all the way to South Carolina from Sacramento to watch him play. "Bob Wellman was our manager," Bowa related. "I was only a right-handed hitter at that time. Nolan Ryan happened to be pitching that night. I had four punchouts. I remember sitting on the stool, and [Wellman] came over and asked me if I was all right. I said, 'Yeah, but if this is what baseball's about, I might as well go home right now.' Nobody knew who Nolan Ryan was at the time. He said that Nolan Ryan was going to be something special. I said, 'I hope so, because I had no chance.'" Bowa, obviously, turned it around and ended up with 2,191 big league hits. He has fond memories of that first year despite the heavy wool uniforms in the blistering heat and the endless bus trips. "I was in heaven," Bowa said. "You never forget your first game. I didn't even know if I was going to make the team." Entering his 60th year in a career that began as a pitcher with the Reidsville (N.C.) Phillies in 1955, Green is now a senior advisor to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Green joined the team after signing his first pro contract in June '55, so his first traditional Opening Day was at Salt Lake City the following year. Green's most memorable Opening Day, though, came while he was GM of the Cubs. "It snowed the night before," Green said. "We were panicked, obviously. I called all the grounds crew staff and the stadium ops staff, and we shoveled snow all morning, trying to get the game in. And we did. God bless them. They worked their butts off, and luckily the sun came out and melted some of the stuff that was lingering and we got the game in. That was just exciting for me. It was really a special day." It's remarkable that the Phillies employ three former players with such longevity in the game. Even more amazing is that they also have three front-office executives -- president Pat Gillick, chairman emeritus Bill Giles and former public-relations director Larry Shenk -- who also have at last 50 years in baseball.

THE BEGINNING

After ending 2014 with a 73-89 record, there second consecutive losing season, the Phillies are currently tied for first place for the 2015 season with a 0-0 record. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 10-13-0 on this day.