2011 Topps Opening Day #55 Cliff Lee

Phillies 9, Astros 4
Game 2 - Saturday Night, April 2nd in Philadelphia

One Sentence Summary:  Cliff Lee struck out 11 on the way to winning his first game with the Phillies since Game 5 of the 2009 World Series.

What It Means:  The Phillies are 2-0 to start the 2011 season.  The last time the Phillies opened the season at home and won their first two games was 1980.

What Went Right:  Clifton Phifer Lee.  The lefty pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits.  The Phillies scored early and often, and it was nice to seemingly have one in the bag almost from the start of the game.  The one through eight hitters all had at least one hit with Placido Polanco leading the way with his three hits.  Shane Victorino, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez contributed two RBIs each.

What Went Wrong:  Not much.  Lee allowed a two-run home run to Carlos Lee in the sixth.

Featured Card:  This is Lee's 2011 Topps Opening Day card, the first 2011 release to feature him back in a Phillies uniform.

Steve Bedrosian with Roy Halladay

Other Stuff:  Victorino left the game in the fifth with a sore left calf . . . Before the game, Steve Bedrosian, the 1987 National League Cy Young Award winner, presented Roy Halladay with his 2010 National League Cy Young Award.  Bedrock looked pretty good . . . Victorino also received his Gold Glove prior to the game.

Field Report:  What an electric night at the ballpark, despite the fact my extremities were numb from the cold.  Jenna and I enjoyed Phillies Franks, a bag of peanuts and a soft pretzel to break in the season.  We were very impressed with the new and improved HD Phanavision, and I was impressed with the new jumbo 2011 Topps cards hanging just outside Ashburn Alley and presenting the starting line-up.

I picked up the 2011 Topps Phillies team set, as well as the annual team-issued set of player postcards.  I'll have more on these sets as the season progresses.