PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It's one game out of 162, but it was an impressive start to the season in more ways than one.
After a season full of bullpen collapses, defensive issues and a lack of timely hitting, the Phillies reversed the trend in their season opener with a 3-2 win over the Braves in 10 innings. After a strong defensive showing and 3 1/3 shutout innings from the bullpen, Jean Segura delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning. Segura said there was an aura of confidence in the dugout, something which may have been missing in 2020.
"You can literally see the energy in the dugout," said Segura. "It’s okay. It’s tight. We’ve going to give it up and we’re going to get it, and we finally did it."
If the trends from Day One continue for the Phillies for the next six months, this team should be vastly improved after their season-ending 2020 collapse. Manager Joe Girardi was hoping to project a fresh start for 2021, and believes the opening day win was the first step towards a clean slate.
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"I think it’s a big boost for our club," Girardi said. "It would have been tough to lose a game like that, opening day, the first time we had fans with what we went through last year, so I think it's a big boost."
Part of the big boost came from Aaron Nola. Even if the starting rotation is improved, the Phillies will need their ace to pitch at a high level. Nola went 6 2/3 innings against Atlanta and allowed only two runs. Nola said he received a boost from the 8,800 fans who were in attendance.
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"That’s how it should be," said Nola. "Hopefully, it will be more soon. It was good to hear humans in the stands."
The fans were part of the success story on opening day. The year 2020 was difficult for more important reasons than baseball, but the chance to escape the horrors of the pandemic with a day at the ballpark was also lost. The limited amount of fans allowed at Thursday's game made their presence felt. If the Phillies are to have a successful season, the fans will have the chance to be part of the story.
"I'll tell you 8,800 people can make a lot of noise in a ballpark that seats about 44,000," Girardi said. "They were kind of spread out. God, it was great. It was great to see, and it was great to hear."
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