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Sunday, March 31, 2024

Game 2 - Not How the Season was Supposed to Start

2020 Topps Opening Day
Ballpark Profile Autographs #BPA-DB
Braves 12
, Phillies 4
Game 2 - Saturday Afternoon, March 30th in Philadelphia
Record - 0-2, Tied for 3rd Place, 2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Aaron Nola was hit early and often in his season debut as the Braves throttled the Phillies, 12-4.

What It Means:  It's early, but the Phillies have looked flat and the pitching (save Zack Wheeler and a few relievers) has been bad in the team's first two games.  They'll try to avoid the early season sweep behind Ranger Suarez on Easter Sunday afternoon.

What Happened:  Nola was behind 2-0 before the crowd could settle back into their seats following a 27-minute rain at the outset of the game.  The Phillies retaliated quickly in the bottom of the first, with a questionable bases loaded walk to Nick Castellanos and a two-run single from Bryson Stott.  Stott's hit chased Braves' starter Max Fried from the game.  But the Braves bullpen regained control from that point while Nola, and the Phillies bullpen, did not.  Nola's final line was ugly - 4 1/3 innings, 12 hits, seven earned runs, including a pair of home runs allowed.  The only other excitement for Phillies fans came in the third when J.T. Realmuto hit a solo home run.

Featured Card/Field Report:
  Jenna and I attended this game, our first of the season, and 20 years since our first visit to Citizens Bank Park in 2004.  We waited out the rain delay inside Pass & Stowe, and we can highly recommend their french fries.  Like many from the sell-out crowd, we made our way to the exits around the seventh inning as the rain returned and intensified.

One of the highlights for me each year upon the return of Phillies baseball is the ambiance of Citizens Bank Park.  The Phillies have always known how to do pregame ceremonies the right way, and this year was no different with first pitches thrown out yesterday by Eagles' greats Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox.  Dan Baker, the public address announcer, celebrating his 52nd year with the club, was front and center during the ceremonies and it was refreshing to hear his voice yet again after a long, cold winter.  So I'll give Baker the card here as Topps gave him an autographed card in its 2020 Topps Opening Day set.

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