Marlins Take Phillies Home Opener

The Philadelphia Phillies raised their fifth consecutive National League Eastern Division banner on Monday afternoon at Citizen Bank Park. The Miami Marlins blow away the celebration with a 6-2 win over the Phillies. Giancarlo Stanton was scratched just thirty minutes prior to the game due to right knee soreness. Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio got consecutive singles to begin the first inning. They then pulled off a double steal. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to second and Reyes scored for a Miami 1-0 lead. The Marlins added another run in the fourth inning. Ramirez hit a lead-off double down the left field line. Gaby Sanchez followed with an RBI single to right field. Omar Infante continued his first-week tear with a lead-off home run on a 0-1 pitch to left field off Cole Hamels for a Marlins 3-0 lead. In the sixth inning, Bonifacio led off with a bunt single and advanced to third base on a two-base throwing error by Hamels with nobody covering at first base. Sanchez knocked in Bonifacio with one out on a double down the left field line to lead 4-0. Hamels left after 5 1/3 innings as he gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out nine Marlins. Infante got his second home run of the game at the start of the seventh inning on a 1-1 pitch to left field off Joe Savery. It was his third home run of the season. Philadelphia broke the shutout that Anibal Sanchez had in the seventh. Shane Victorino and John Mayberry Jr. got two straight singles to begin the frame. Mayberry Jr. was then forced out at second on a fielders choice. Freddy Galvis picked up his first hit in his MLB career with a two-run double to deep left-center field. Sanchez was pulled after 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. Austin Kearns capped things off with his first hit as a Miami Marlin in the ninth inning. It was a solo home run to left field off Jonathan Papelbon with none out on a 2-0 pitch and extended their lead to 6-2. The three-game series will resume on Wednesday night.