PHILADELPHIA – An impressive late-game push by the Oakland A’s lineup couldn’t make up for the struggle of their pitching staff on opening day.
The A rallied for a four-run seventh inning, but managed to pull off a shaky performance from starting pitcher Frankie Montas and the team’s bullpen as the Philadelphia Phillies cruised to a 9–5 victory in Friday afternoon’s season-opener. was not enough. Citizens Bank Park.
After trailing 5–0, A made his first run on a single home run from cleanup man Chad Pinder in the fourth innings. The home run did not immediately threaten the Phillies, but a three-run homer from Phillies starter Aaron Nola’s first baseman Seth Brown at the top of the seventh inning eventually did.
After back-to-back hits from Sean Murphy and Pinder, Brown blew his three-run homer over Nola’s right-center, ending the day on the right-hander. Oakland held another match against reliever Juris Familla as free agent signe Stefan Vogt came on to score on an error, leaving the deficit 6–5.
This was as close as the A’s would get, however, as their inexperienced bullpen failed to prevent a renewed Phillies offense late in the innings.
“I think our guys, after the first few innings, they got into the game and they fought back,” said A’s manager Mark Coatsey. “For me, he showed that fight to get a chance to get back in the game and at least tie or advance in the seventh. It shows some good signs.”
Click here to read Dubert’s full story.
Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics is greeted by Jake Lemoine #71 on a three-run home run by Seth Brown #15 against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning of the opening day game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8 After scoring, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas #47 delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of the Opening Day game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Bryce Harper (3) of the Philadelphia Phillies scores an RBI double by Rhys Hoskins during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies is greeted by Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies when he scored a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the first innings of the Opening Day game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia . Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the first innings of the Opening Day game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Starting Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas (47) throws in the first inning of a baseball game at the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) The celebrations take place before the Philadelphia Phillies’ home opening baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola #27 holds a large American flag ahead of the Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) The Philadelphia Phillies walk through the centerfield before the Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Philly Fnatic parachute past the Philadelphia skyline and before the start of the Philadelphia Phillies home opener baseball game in Philadelphia at the Oakland Athletics, Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) Philly fanatics parachute before an Opening Day game at Citizens Bank Park between the Oakland Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) A fan lines up before the gates open at Citizens Bank Park for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball home opener against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) Philly Fanatics drive past fans outside the ball park before the start of the Philadelphia Phillies home opening baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson) Fans walk through the front gate of Citizens Bank Park before the start of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball home opener against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia. (AP photo/Lawrence Casterson)
Reporting by Evan Weibeck
SAN FRANCISCO – For the first time since 2009, the side of McCove Cove was shaking on MLB’s Inauguration Day.
Well, depends on the time of day.
As Logan Webb fired his first pitch at 1:38 p.m., the crowd was excited to see the start of the Giants’ latest home battery, with Joey Bart on the receiving end. Moments ago, fans roared for Brandon Belt, who cemented his status as “The Captain” with a grand sea entrance. And, as Darin Roof raced home from first base to score the winning run in the shadow of the afternoon, they went into a frenzy.
Those highlights provided a stark contrast to the stunned silence that fell on the stadium at the top of the ninth inning.
There could also be 40,853 cardboard cutouts in attendance on Friday when Jazz Chisholm’s game-tying home run from Camilo Doval to the left-field wall in the top of the ninth inning. Chisholm’s huge flyball forced the game to overtake and set the stage for Austin Slater’s first career walk-off hit.
“Opening Day is a special day in baseball, and it becomes even more special when you have a lot of excitement for the fans,” said manager Gabe Kapler after the 6–5, extra-innings win, with no sign of excitement. There was no shortage.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 8: Brandon Belt comes in his captain persona to throw the first pitch on a boat as the San Francisco Giants host their season opener against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon / Bay Area Newsgroup) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 7: Navy skydivers offer Old Glory ahead of the San Francisco Giants season on Friday, April 8, 2022 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Carl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) A parachuter from Leapfrogs takes off in the field with the Americana flag at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Shay Hammond/Bay Area Newsgroup) Brandon Crawford of the San Francisco Giants is introduced to a pyrotechnic display during the season opener, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Starting San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb takes the field for the season opener against the Miami Marlins on Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) San Francisco Giants debut pitcher Logan Webb in the first inning of the season against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 8: Starting San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb throws the Miami Marlins in the season opener, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) Rosco Dudley of Menlo Park, Dan James of Foster City, and Rich Simrin of Menlo Park, arrive early for Opening Day at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Shay Hammond/Bay Area Newsgroup) Baseball fans flock to the San Francisco Giants season opener against the Miami Marlins on Friday, April 8, 2022. (Carl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) Brandon Belt delivers a sacrificial bunt against the Miami Marlins in the third inning, leading to the scoring of Joey Bart, Friday, April 8, 2022 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Joy Bart of the San Francisco Giants shouts for a Brandon belt after scoring on his sacrificial bunt and Mamie Marlins error in the third inning of the season opener at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon / Bay Area Newsgroup) Joy Bart (21) of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Shay Hammond/Bay Area Newsgroup) Joy Bart of the San Francisco Giants scores in his fifth inning home run against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Carl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) Brandon Belt makes a “C” gesture, possibly to remind people that he is still the “Captain”, after hitting a single homer in the eighth against the Marlins. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) San Francisco catcher Joy Bart chases Garrett Cooper of the Mamie Marlins in the tenth inning on Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) Austin Slater (13) of the San Francisco Giants hits a double after winning a game against the Miami Marlins in the tenth inning at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Shay Hammond/Bay Area Newsgroup) Darin Roof of the San Francisco Giants scores the winning run in the tenth inning of the season opener over Austin Slater after Miami Marlins catcher Peyton Henry beat the tag on Friday, April 8, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup) Austin Slater (13) of the San Francisco Giants celebrates with teammates after winning a game in the ninth inning on Opening Day at Oracle Park on Friday, April 8, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Shay Hammond/Bay Area Newsgroup)
