Final: Phillies 1, Pirates 0

WP: Roy Halladay (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP: Erik Bedard (0-1, 1.29 ERA)
SV: Jonathan Papelbon (1, 0.00 ERA)

Alex Presley led off the bottom of the first with a line drive base hit. Jose Tabata then followed with an infield single. Things were looking good. But then Andrew McCutchen hit into a 6-4-3 double play and the Pirates would not collect another hit off the Phillies for the rest of the game.

Erik Bedard was brilliant in his Pirates debut giving up just one run over seven innings. Chris Resop and Juan Cruz each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The Phillies only run came on a sacrifice fly from Carlos Ruiz in the 7th inning following a single by Ty Wigginton and a double from John Mayberry. Wigginton slid safely just before Tabata’s throw arrived at home.

Let me just say this. I love having relief pitchers who can strike people out. It just makes things so much easier in pressure situations.

The crowd today was big, but not really all that engaged. I’m sure it had a lot to do with the fact there was no offense. But for what was the largest crowd ever at PNC, it didn’t really feel like it.

Nate McLouth received a huge ovation when he came up to pinch hit in the 8th inning. Pittsburghers love that guy. He struck out.