And on the third day … a Sunday, no less …
The first two games of the Phillies’ season were reminiscent of last year — though with six fewer runs allowed, one fewer position player on the mound and a much more costly opponent — but the parallels ended there. Philadelphia’s offense came to life in the seventh on Easter Sunday, powering a three-run frame for their first Opening Weekend win since 2022.
There were many cogs that inning, and an unheralded one was Johan Rojas’ speed. He grounded into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play with the Phillies still down 3-2, but the call at first was overturned on replay. Two batters later, Rojas scored on Trea Turner’s game-tying RBI single, another play that someone without 96th-percentile speed might not have beat.
Speed from a less likely candidate then benefitted the Phillies when Alec Bohm — who hit .344 with runners in scoring position last year and .321 with two outs and RISP — floated one into shallow left for a 5-3 lead.
Never was it easy this weekend for the Phillies’ bullpen, unless your name is Jeff Hoffman. The Braves scored one before putting runners on the corners against Seranthony Domínguez in the eighth. Gregory Soto needed one pitch to preserve the lead. José Alvarado earned the save in a 1-2-3 ninth, two days after a rough five-run season debut. Matt Strahm also bounced back with a scoreless seventh.
The Phillies needed every run they could get, in part because they wasted several scoring opportunities earlier on. They couldn’t cash in on first-and-second, no-outs in the second, then scored once after loading the bases with no outs in the fifth. It was impressive escape art by Chris Sale, who allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings in his Braves debut with five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. He outmatched Ranger Suárez, who settled in nicely after Ozzie Albies’ two-run homer in the second at bat of the game. Suárez scattered three across five frames.
Sunday also provided the first Schwarbomb of the season, more laser than bomb. It went 114.4 mph for his 32nd career leadoff homer.
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