Phillies vs Braves: Braves blast Phils as bullpen falters following Wheeler

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies’ bullpen could not sustain what Zack Wheeler started, making for an unhappy Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

The Braves scored all their runs in the seventh and eighth innings to demolish the Phillies 9-3 in a brutal-for-the-home-team game viewed by a sellout crowd of 44,452.

The Phillies had just five hits to Atlanta's 13.

Phillies starter Wheeler allowed five hits with no walks and struck out five through six shutout innings.

Braves relievers allowed two hits and struck out seven following Spencer Strider, with Nick Castellanos' ninth-inning single bringing in a late Phillies run.

The Braves tied the Phillies 2-2 in the seventh inning on pinch-hitter Adam Duvall’s 2-run double with one out off Matt Strahm. Michael Harris II opened the inning with a single and, after a strikeout, Orlando Arcia doubled off the left-field wall above a leaping Brandon Marsh.

The eighth inning was worse, as the Braves scored seven off Jose Alvarado and Connor Brogdon.

Matt Olsen doubled to open the eighth and moved to third on a flyout. He scored on a single by Harris. The Braves then loaded the bases before Ronald Acuna Jr. singled to make it 4-2.

Alvarado was then replaced by Brogdon, who promptly threw a wild pitch to score a run, then walked in another as members of the sellout crowd began leaving in disgust. Olsen, batting for the second time in the inning, promptly clubbed his third double of the game to score three more and send additional fans to the exits.

Marsh blast puts Phils ahead

Brandon Marsh had given the Phillies their first lead of the season, much to the delight of the sold-out crowd at Citizens Bank Park.

Marsh's two-run homer into the left-field seats with one out in the fifth inning off Strider inched the Phillies ahead of Atlanta 2-0 and brought a roar from the assembled throng of 44,452.

It scored Bryson Stott, who opened the inning with a single and stole second base.

Wheeler, Strider start strong

Considering who was on the mound, it's no surprise. Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park began as a pitchers' duel.

The Phillies' only hit off Strider the first four innings was Alec Bohm's second-inning single, though Bryce Harper walked in the fourth. Strider was lifted to start the sixth inning, having struck out eight and allowed three hits and two walks.

Turner boots one

Trea Turner had a career-high 23 errors last season, his first with the Phillies. He has started 2024 with another.

The shortstop failed to field a routine grounder off the bat of Atlanta’s Sean Murphy with one out in the fourth inning. But the Phillies didn’t pay for his mistake, even though Orlando Arcia followed with an infield single. Jarred Kelenic’s fielder’s choice groundout and Ronald Acuna Jr.’s popout ended the inning.

New role for Merrifield

A dozen years ago, Whit Merrifield was in his second minor-league season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, demonstrating his vast potential.

He smacked 50 doubles and stole 49 bases in 227 games in 2011 and 2012, staying longer at the Advanced Class A level than he wanted but positioning himself for the years ahead.

Now his baseball career is set for another transition.

 Merrifield, 35 and in his ninth big-league season, has joined the Phillies to man an important but different – for him -- utility role. He is a career .284 hitter who led the American League in hits twice and stolen bases three times.

“There’s a lot to look forward to, and this is a good day to get it going,” Merrifield said before Friday’s season opener against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

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Merrifield played all 162 games for Kansas City in 2019 and 2021, 139 for the Royals and Blue Jays in 2022 and another 145 last year in Toronto, where he was an American League All-Star for the third time.

In subsequent free agency, Merrifield signed with the Phillies for a year and $8 million knowing his role would be as a fill-in outfielder and second baseman who could provide late-game offensive spark. Some suggested a late 2023 tail-off showed all those games had perhaps taken a toll physically.

So Merrifield will certainly play less for the Phillies, but is expected to provide a spark when he does.

“If I have a day off it’s different than what it’s been most of my career,” said Merrifield. “I played 500-and-whatever games in a row [in Kansas City], so as your career goes, if you’re fortunate to play long enough, your career kinda molds and I still feel as good as I felt when I was playing 500-and-some games in a row.

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“It’s just this is a different dynamic on this team. We got 12, 13 guys that would probably be everyday starters on most teams. That’s why we’re a good team. Ready to contribute however I can. Looking forward to performing when I’m in there, seeing if we can’t push this thing over the finish line.”

The Phillies have just two off days in April, furthering the likelihood Merrifield will see action frequently. How well second-year center-fielder and defensive whiz Johan Rojas hits will play a role.

“I think it depends on whose pitching,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of how much Merrifield will play early. “Before we even signed Whit, I talked to him on the phone and he said ‘I’m typically a guy that works my way into the lineup.’ I like that attitude so we’ll see how it goes.

“He’s certainly had a great spring training. He had great at-bats and played really well in left, second and third, so we have a lot of options for him.”  

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In addition to the energy he knew the home crowd would bring, Merrifield had another reason to appreciate his new surroundings Friday.

“It’s probably the most hitter friendly park I’ve played in in my career,” said Merrifield, whose walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning gave South Carolina the 2010 College World Series championship 2-1 over UCLA. “So that’s always a good thing for a hitter. It’s exciting.”  

Phillies' Opening Day lineup

J.T. Realmuto will be in the clean-up spot for the Phillies today in their 2024 season opener at Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler will be on the mound for the Phillies, opposing Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves in the 3:05 p.m. start, which will follow pregame introductions.

Realmuto had batted behind Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott last year in two playoff games against Strider.

1-Kyle Schwarber, DH

2-Trea Turner, SS

3-Bryce Harper, 1B

4-J.T. Realmuto, C

5-Alex Bohm, 3B

6-Bryson Stott, SB

7-Nick Castellanos, RF

8-Brandon Marsh, LF

9-Johan Rojas, CF

Atlanta Braves' Opening Day lineup

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.