The Phillies enjoyed a historic first inning against the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.
The Phils scored 12 runs in the frame. That's right, a dozen. It was the most the club had ever scored in a first inning and was one shy of the club record for most runs in any inning.
Some facts about the uprising:
The Phils sent 16 men to the plate.
They had nine hits.
They had four extra-base hits.
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They walked four times.
Their first two outs of the inning both scored runs as Maikel Franco and Freddy Galvis had sacrifice flies.
Howie Kendrick, Maikel Saunders and Tommy Joseph all had two hits in the inning.
Joseph had entered the game hitless in 13 at-bats for the season.
Kendrick had a three-run triple.
Ten of the runs were surrendered by 38-year-old right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who'd had his contract purchased from the minors earlier in the day. Guthrie, a 12-year major-league veteran, did not pitch in the majors last season and one has to wonder if he will again.
Reliever Enny Romero faced four batters in the inning and gave up two doubles, a single and two runs.
Romero finally ended the frame by striking out Cameron Rupp.
When the inning ended, the crowd, which grew more and more giddy with every hit, rose to its feet and gave the Phillies a standing ovation.
And first-year hitting coach Matt Stairs phoned the executive suite and asked for a contract extension.
Just kidding.
