Rollins Sinks Braves With Two Run Shot In The 8th
Atlanta- On a chilly night here in Atlanta, the Phils and Braves opened the season to a packed house here at Turner Field, but unfortunately for Braves fans it was the Phillies who came out on top, winning by the score of 3-1, thanks to an 8th inning two run homer by SS Jimmy Rollins.
Held without a baserunner through three, the Phils got to Braves starter Kris Medlen in the 4th, taking the 1-0 lead on a Ryan Howard RBI single to right. Two innings later it was the Braves turn, with Justin Upton knocking in B.J. with an RBI ground out to tie it at 1-1. They would remain deadlocked until the 8th when a leadoff walk by Ben Revere was followed by Rollins' homer, on a 1-2 Medlen fastball that got too much of the plate. Back in front, the Phils turned to new setup man Mike Adams in the bottom of the 8th, and despite loading the bases with nobody out, Adams worked his way through, getting Chris Johnson to line out to Utley before inducing an inning ending double play ball by Justin Upton. In the 9th, closer Jonathan Papelbon made quick work of the Braves, striking out two of the four batters he faced, including Andrelton Simmons looking to end the game.
WP: Phillippe Aumont(1-0) LP: Kris Medlen(0-1) S: Jonathan Papelbon(1) HR: Phi, Jimmy Rollins(1)
Around The League On Opening Day
-In Washington, the visiting Marlins surprisingly took it to Nats ace Stephen Strasburg, tagging him for 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 5 innings as Miami trounced Washington by the score of 10-2.
-Beset by injuries, the Yankees got a dominating performance out of CC Sabathia, who went the route allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 in a 2-0 shutout of Boston.
-On the south side of Chicago, Sox catcher Tyler Flowers went 3 for 4 with 2 homers, a double, and 4 RBI to lead his club to a 7-1 victory over Kansas City
-Leading 3-1 and cruising, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was hammered in the sixth, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits including three homers as the Giants went on to defeat the Dodgers by the score of 5-4.
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