| Despite a second straight World Series | | | | chance to win the game," Halladay said. "That's |
| appearance, Cole Hamels was at least one Phillie | | | | how I felt. Just minimize it...and just get back in |
| who wanted to put 2009 behind him as quick as | | | | the dugout as soon as possible." |
| possible. | | | | Placido Polanco, signed by the Phillies this past |
| The left-hander hopes to have a bounce-back | | | | offseason, went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and six |
| campaign in 2010 and he begins that quest tonight | | | | RBI in all, while Ryan Howard also hit a homer for |
| versus the Washington Nationals in the second | | | | a Philadelphia club who had lost each of its last |
| contest of a three-game series in the nation's | | | | four games on Opening Day. |
| capital. | | | | Polanco is 0-for-10 in his career versus Jason |
| Click Here to Watch Baseball Philadelphia Phillies vs | | | | Marquis, who is slated to make his Nationals debut |
| Washington Nationals Online | | | | this evening after signing a two-year, $15 million |
| Hamels had a coming out party in 2008, going 4-0 | | | | deal this past offseason. |
| with a 1.80 earned run average in five postseason | | | | The right-hander will pitch for his fifth different |
| starts, helping Philadelphia capture its first | | | | team and had won double- digit games in each of |
| championship since 1980 while also capturing World | | | | his last six seasons. That includes last season, |
| Series MVP honors. | | | | when Marquis went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA in 33 |
| The 26-year-old took a step back in 2009 | | | | starts with the Rockies and made the All-Star |
| however, going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 | | | | team. |
| regular-season starts and was 1-2 with a 7.58 | | | | Marquis, 31, is 5-3 with a save and 4.38 ERA in 19 |
| ERA in four playoff starts. He gave up five runs | | | | games (12 starts) lifetime versus the Phillies, |
| over 4 1/3 innings in his lone World Series outing | | | | winning his lone start against them last year with |
| versus the Yankees, who bested the Phils in six | | | | seven innings of two-run ball. |
| games in the Fall Classic. | | | | Marquis follows John Lannan, who was tagged for |
| Hamels didn't exactly raise expectations in the | | | | five fourth-inning runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 |
| spring either, going 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in six | | | | innings of Monday's loss. Lannan (0-1) began that |
| starts. However, he is 7-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 15 | | | | ill- fated inning with a walk to Chase Utley before |
| career starts versus tonight's opponent. | | | | Howard took him deep to open the flood gates. |
| Philadelphia is counting on Hamels to form a 1-2 | | | | "The leadoff walk to Utley and the breaking ball to |
| punch with new ace Roy Halladay, a gamble the | | | | Howard really set things off," Lannan said. "The |
| club felt safe taking when it shipped Cliff Lee, last | | | | Phillies are a tough team to stop once they get |
| year's postseason hero, to Seattle for prospects | | | | the momentum." |
| this past offseason. | | | | Ryan Zimmerman, who caught President Barack |
| Halladay did his part on Monday, as he shook off | | | | Obama's ceremonial first pitch, knocked in the |
| allowing a first-inning run on the way to an | | | | only run for Washington, while Ivan Rodriguez had |
| excellent outing in the Phillies' 11-1 victory over the | | | | three of the Nats' nine hits in his debut with the |
| Nationals. Halladay (1-0) lasted seven innings, giving | | | | club. Still, the club fell to 1-5 on Opening Day since |
| up just the one run on six hits with nine strikeouts | | | | moving to D.C. |
| to go along with a run batted in. | | | | Philadelphia dominated Washington last season to |
| Click Here to Watch Baseball Philadelphia Phillies vs | | | | the tune of a 15-3 record, with a 7-2 ledger at |
| Washington Nationals Online | | | | Nationals Park. The Phillies have won four straight |
| "It's a nice feeling to go out and know that if you | | | | and 13 of the last 14 matchups overall between |
| give up a run in the first you still have a good | | | | the clubs. |