We back: Phillies 5, Rangers 3
Cristopher Sanchez and a couple of home runs help start the season on a good note
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images Thursday’s Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers had everything a Phillies fan could want: A Schwarbomb, an impressive debut from a rookie, filthy pitching from Cristopher Sanchez, and a way-too-interesting ninth inning. Put it all together, and the Phillies improved to 1-0 on the season with a 5-3 win.
After Sanchez worked around two ground ball singles in the first, the Phillies scored their first runs of the season with the old bloop-blast combination. Trea Turner beat out an infield single, and Kyle Schwarber went opposite field. 🚨 OPENING DAY SCHWARBOMB!
🚨 pic. twitter. com/VDSCDlTGwZ — Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 26, 2026 Rangers started Nathan Eovaldi settled down after that, but he did give up a single to Justin Crawford on the first pitch he saw as a major leaguer.
SAVE THAT BALL! ⚾ The first hit of Justin Crawford's @MLB career! pic.