Braves Win on Opening Day

The Atlanta Braves began their season on the right track on Monday night as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 in the opener of their three-game series. The Braves showed their offensive potential for the upcoming season by hitting three home runs in the game.
The Braves' offense had eleven hits as they scored their seven runs. Freddie Freeman had the big night, he had three hits, including a two-run homer in the first inning off of Phillies' ace Cole Hamels. Freeman also had three RBI's to lead the Braves. Chris Johnson and Gerald Laird had two hits apiece for Atlanta, Laird also had an RBI. Dan Uggla and Justin Upton both hit solo home runs, they were also off of Hamels. Andrelton Simmons also had a hit for the Braves.
The pitching was decent for the Braves. Tim Hudson started the game and breezed through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley hit a homer off of Hudson, Utley finished a double shy of the cycle and had three RBI's. Hudson was taken out in the fifth and finished the night pitching four and a third innings while giving up three runs on six hits, he also struck out three batters. Luis Avilan came into the game in the fifth for Hudson and got out of a jam. He pitched a perfect inning and two thirds and picked up the victory, he is 1-0. Eric O'Flaherty and Jordan Walden both pitched an inning and gave up a run. Craig Kimbrel came in and pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the year.
The Braves are 1-0 and will continue their three-game series with the Phillies on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. Paul Maholm will start for the Braves and will face Roy Halladay of the Phillies.

Freddie Freeman rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of the Braves' 7-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day. Freeman led the Braves with three hits and added three RBI's.
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press