PHILLIES EDGE MARLINS 4-2 FOR OPENING DAY VICTORY
Eternal Baseball Press
MIAMI – The stellar pitching matchup of Philadelphia’s Grover Alexander and Miami’s Jose Fernandez was settled with the bats in the Phillies 4-2 Opening Day victory.
Fernandez singled in both his at-bats on Tuesday, and came around to score Miami’s game-tying first run in the sixth inning on Tuesday. With the score ties at one, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel stuck with his ace in the seventh inning, allowing Alexander to bat with two outs and runners on the corners. Philadelphia starter rapped a single to centerfield, scoring second baseman Chase Utley and lifting Philadelphia to a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Billy Hamilton smashed a fastball toward centerfield that Hanley Ramirez was able to snare but too later to try a throw. Shortstop Sherry Magee scored on the play to make it 3-1 Philadelphia. Del Ennis’ ninth-inning pinch hit double plated Darren Daulton and capped Philadelphia’s scoring at 4-1.
Miami rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Tug McGraw. Singles from J.T. Realmuto and Preston Wilson put two on for pinch hitter Mike Lowell. His low line drive skipped off the glove of Phillies shortstop Sherry Magee and scored Realmuto to trim the lead to 4-2. Gary Sheffield grounded back to McGraw for the second out, advancing both runners to second and third. Cliff Floyd grounded to third base, and Mike Schmidt’s throw to Dick Allen ended the game.
Grover Alexander (1-0) earned the win for the Phillies (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) while Jose Fernandez (0-1) took the loss (7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) took the loss for the Marlins. Philadelphia’s Steve Bedrosian earned a hold , while Tug McGraw recorded his first save.
Miami looks to even the series tomorrow night, sending right-hander Josh Johnson to the mound to face Philadelphia right-hander George McQuillan. First pitch from Marlins Ballpark is at 7:05 PM EST.
Photo Credit: Marlins Park Miami Marlins Panorama by David Aughinbaugh II
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