A Night of Celebration and a Loss for the Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies were supposed to win tonight. They were to go ahead and walk all over the Braves and begin their golden road to another World Series. Brett Myers was going to strike out 10, Ryan Howard was to hit his first mammoth home run of the year, and Raul Ibanez was going to make the fans still hurt about Pat Burrell leaving.

However, it didn't work out like that at all.

According to Phillies.com, the issues actually started before the first pitch was ever thrown. After raising the championship flag, Charlie Manuel went to the ladder on the outfield stands to make his way to the field. However, there was no ladder. Charlie had to find his own way down. After that, the celebrations continued with marching bands, choirs, and video presentations. The crowd swelled with pride in their Phighting Phils. It was the last bit of happiness that night.

Derek Lowe, the offseason signing of the Atlanta Braves, went ahead and sat the Phillies down in order in six out of the eight innings that he pitched. This was uncharacteristic of Lowe, who had gone 0-3 with an 8.44 ERA in his last three Opening Day starts. In his last two starts last year, during the 2008 post season, Lowe had one loss and a no decision. All that the Phillies could muster was a two out double by Carlos Ruiz and a single by Jimmy Rollins.

It wasn't supposed to start this way.

Whether it was the distractions of the celebration, or the lack of at-bats for the regulars at the end of Spring Training, as Manuel had expressed earlier this week, the sad truth of the matter is that the Phillies lost a game that they should have won. The Phillies have defeat the Braves on many occasions over the last few years, and have shown that they had Lowe's number.

Maybe it will be better tomorrow. The celebrations are over. The reality of the season has begun. The Phillies will win tomorrow. Jamie Moyer and his pitch speeds of slower, slower, and slowest will baffle the Braves lineup.

If not, it will be time for Charlie's closed door talk with his team. Please Charlie, don't let this be the start of bad things. Just a small blip on another golden season.