Phillies: Ranking the best opening day lineups of 2010s

7. March 29, 2018

As we all now know, the Gabe Kapler-led Phillies era did not end well; and, also in hindsight, its beginning was hardly any better.

The 2018 Opening Day contest opposite the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park was Kapler’s first as manager of the Phillies, and despite having a 5-0 lead nearly two-thirds of the way through the game, the Phillies found themselves outscored 8-0 en route to the disappointing loss.

So much went wrong, particularly Kapler infamously replacing starting pitcher Aaron Nola despite him throwing just 68 pitches, and that the skipper tried to call in a Phillies pitcher before him being fully warmed up in the bullpen.

1. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
2. Carlos Santana, 1B
3. Nick Williams, RF
4. Rhys Hoskins, LF
5. Aaron Altherr, CF
6. J.P. Crawford, SS
7. Maikel Franco, 3B
8. Andrew Knapp, C
9. Aaron Nola, P

Cleanup hitter Rhys Hoskins got the Phillies on the board early with a two-out RBI double to right field in the top of the first, scoring new Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana.

That would be the game’s only running through five innings; Nola cruised at that point, allowing no runs. Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran had allowed just the one run, but would be charged for three more in the top of the sixth. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez began the frame with a solo home run, causing Teheran to unravel. Despite getting the next two batters out, he would hit Hoskins and walk center fielder Aaron Altherr. Reliever Rex Brothers entered and likewise walked shortstop J.P. Crawford, loading the bases, before Maikel Franco walked again with the bases loaded. The next batter, catcher Andrew Knapp hit a two-run single.

Now, the Phillies had a 5-0 lead, but that the game would be far from over. Nola allowed a leadoff double to Ender Inciarte in the next half-inning, and, despite getting Ozzie Albies to fly out, Kapler replaced the right-hander with southpaw Hoby Milner. The left-hander’s very first batter faced, Freddie Freeman, went took him yard, shrinking the Phillies’ lead to three runs.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Braves added three more runs while facing LHP Adam Morgan and RHP Edubray Ramos, tying the game at 5. Then, in the ninth, the game ultimately swayed in favor of the Braves.

Right-hander Hector Neris entered, and despite having two outs with runners on first and second, he would surrender a walk-off, three-run home run to outfielder Nick Markakis to deep right-center. The three-hour, 28-minute game was a swing of emotions, yet the one that remains in the memories of the Phillies faithful is Markakis’ home run.

The Phillies would have their first real chance of qualifying for the postseason since 2011 under Kapler in 2018, yet they would not get close enough. The 2019 season ended in similar fashion, causing the Phillies to part ways with the skipper after just two seasons.