Game #001 – Opening Day 2025! – Phillies at Nationals – 2023 Heritage Autograph & more

Cards

2023 Topps Heritage – 3 Packs
2024 Bowman – 2 Packs
Hobby Rip Night – 2 Packs
2025 Topps – Series One – Hanger Box

Game #1 – Phillies Win! Phillies 7 – Nationals 3 in 10 Innings

19 strikeouts by the Phillies and a feeling of dread came over the Phillies fandom. “Same old shit” I could hear it from the fanbase as the shadows turned Mackenzie Gore into the best Opening Day pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1967. It was PREDICTABLE. The nightmares of an inept lineup failing to hit any sort of left handed starter came true, and the season was all but over. Thank GOD for Zack Wheeler, who kept the Nationals to only 1 run and once again the lack of run support screws over the 2nd place Cy Young candidate.

Then, in the top of the 7th, Bryce Harper drills his first homerun of 2025, didn’t even hit one in spring training, tying the game up with a 415 foot shot to right center. Then Kyle Schwarber takes the lead since he was batting 4th in the lineup with a homerun of his own, how handy was it to have him in this spot!

This game was really a nightmare for Phillies fans, as the fears of last season came to fruition when the bullpen blew the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th. Jordan Romano comes into the game a free agent signed by the Phillies in the off-season for $8.5 million looking to him as a potential closer. Romano comes in to face the menacing 8th, 9th, and leadoff hitter. He promptly walks Dylan Crews, (first batter) on 4 pitches, and hits Jacob Young. A double steal, and then Luis Garcia Jr lines one to left to tie the game. Alvarado replaces Romano in the 9th after more walks, to extras we go.

Alec Bohm to the rescue

After all the offseason talk, the trades, the rumor, and the bad press initially when they were looking to trade him, Alec Bohm saved opening day for the Phillies, and may have saved the ticket sales to Citizens Bank Park for the next few weeks. Zombie ghost runner in the form of Bryson Stott on 2nd, Harper walked. Bohm facing Colin Poche takes his first pitch to left center in the gap, a two run double, lifting the Phillies to victory on this Opening day. With a swing of the bat redemption from 2024, for a franchise that he came up through, he lifted the entire franchise’s hopes and dreams. Jubilation in Washington DC, across the Delaware valley as hopes on Opening Day came to fruition, and all was forgiven. Alec Bohm connected in the top of the 10th, and just like that we have high hopes.