Flash Make Opening Day Dramatic

Perhaps because Louie Dali was left on the mound too long, the Flash needed 3 more outs than they thought they would to win on Opening Day. After Dali pitched to 8 batters in the 1st inning, allowing 2 runs, he faced just 4 over the minimum the rest of the way through the 8th inning.

The Flash had supplied him with a 4-2 lead, and Dali was so fired up about it being Opening Day that he took the mound again in the 9th, trying for the Complete Game. He got Cesar Fernandez to ground out, but then a pair of singles signaled the end of his day.

Coming in to seal the deal was Duke Monroe, last year's league-leader in saves. But he looked uncharacteristically shaky in his first outing of Season 2. He allowed two more singles and a fielder's choice RBI, blowing his first save opportunity even though the runs that scored were Dali's responsibility.

Upset by the missed opportunity to end the game, the Flash got their bats back out and went to work. They put 2 men on with 2 out, and asked newcomer Lefty Hodges to be their Opening Day hero. He answered the call with a single to left center, allowing the Philly faithful to go home happy.

Quick Hits: Campos and Wyatt both blasted their first long balls of the year, Campos' of the 2-run variety...Dali allowed 8 hits over 8.1 innings, struck out 6, and walked 1...Pat Robertson, who played AAA ball last year, had a key PH single in the 9th inning...Michael Staley took the loss for Buffalo.