Both starters were roughed up pretty bad, which might have been expected from the Rangers' Tanner Scheppers, but the other guy was Cliff Lee.
The Phillies an Rangers might not have fully realized that today's game counted.
Hit after squared-up hit flew around the Ballpark at Arlington today, and the Phillies managed to win 14-10. Starters Tanner Scheppers and Cliff Lee were both roundly battered in what looked like an extended batting practice session.
It was the first start of Scheppers major league career, so some of his misfortune was predictable, but he ended up surrendering seven earned runs in just four innings. Not a great showing for the Opening Day starter. Of course, Yu Darvish was originally set to start the game and Derek Holland and Matt Harrison were next in line, but all three pitchers were injured to start the year.
Much, much more was expected from Lee. The Rangers have some great hitters in their lineup. Sure, but Lee is one of the best pitchers in the game. He gave up eight earned runs and struck out just one. Staying true to form, he only walked one batter in the game, but it was surrendered to the startlingly undisciplined J.P. Arencibia, so it should probably count for at least 3 or for walks due to the unlikelihood of the game's least walk-prone pitcher issuing a free pass to its least discriminating swing-and-miss hitter.
The runs came in bunches with Philadelphia taking a 6-0 lead after Jimmy Rollins hit a grand slam in the second inning.
TAKE THAT, SANDBERG!
The Rangers rallied back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs highlighted by a three-run double by second baseman Josh Wilson. To follow that up, Alex Rios put the Rangers in front with a three-run dinger in the third.
Then the Phillies took over. Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche homered, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a clean ninth to end the game.
Maybe tomorrow the pitching staffs will show up.