Phillies' Jhoan Duran had Opening Day achievement that's never been done, and doesn't make sense
This seems like it should be impossible.
Phillies' Jhoan Duran had Opening Day achievement that's never been done, and doesn't make sense originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Jhoan Duran did something never before done for the Philadelphia Phillies .
It's just a feat that seems like it should've already been done at some point. Duran got the save for the Phillies on Thursday as they won on Opening Day. Somehow, it was the first-ever save by a Phillies pitcher on Opening Day at home, ever.
The Athletic's stats wizard Jayson Stark shared the feat on X after the game: This seems impossible but ... Johan Duran just became the first Phillies reliever ever to save a game at home on Opening Day https://t. co/f3in3l80vW ā Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 26, 2026 MORE: Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, and Superman without his cape A couple pieces of fact make this make sense, but it still seems pretty crazy.
The save hasn't existed forever, which limits the window on this slightly, although it's been around plenty long enough for it to have happened already. Teams also don't always play at home on Opening Day, particularly a team from the Northeast like the Phillies. And then there's the matter of winning by three runs or less and getting that reliever in the game to finish it.