June 27, 2017 6:10 AM +0430
CHICAGO -- Ryne Sandberg loves the way Chase Utley plays the game. Deatrich Wise Jr. Youth Jersey . The Phillies manager says the second baseman reminds him of the way he used to play during Hall of Fame career. So of course Utley delivered on a blustery day at Wrigley Field. Utley hit a two-run homer and an RBI single, helping Philadelphia beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 on Friday in a historic home opener at the majors second oldest ballpark. "It was cold out there and the wind was blowing. It made it even colder," Utley said. "But I thought overall we swung the bats pretty well." John Mayberry Jr. also had a two-run drive for his fourth career pinch-hit homer as Philadelphia bounced back after dropping the last two games of its opening series in Texas. Ben Revere and Domonic Brown had three hits apiece, and Brown also drove in two runs. The Phillies also got a strong outing from Roberto Hernandez, who pitched into the sixth inning in his first game after signing a $4.5 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia in the off-season. "He did his job today. He looked good," Sandberg said. "Really liked his two-seam fastball, action on it was going down pretty good." Welington Castillo hit a solo homer for the Cubs, who have dropped four consecutive home openers for the first time since 1991-94. Travis Wood (0-1) struck out eight in 6 1-3 innings, but was charged with four runs, three earned, and six hits. "Id like to have a couple pitches back," Wood said. "The one to Utley, the one there at the end to Revere that ended up chasing me from the ballgame." Wrigley Field was all dressed up for the first game of its 100th anniversary season. There were big blue banners on each side of the red sign that welcomes visitors to the beloved ballpark, and fans headed to the outfield bleachers strolled past historical pictures from the Cubs longtime home. The crowd of 38,283, wearing jackets and winter hats for the chilly afternoon, roared when Sandberg joined fellow Cubs Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams on the mound for a ceremonial first pitch. Banks, Jenkins and Williams drew more cheers when they sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch. "Its a special day for me to be here, just for the festivities and the memories of opening days here," said Sandberg, who spent 15 seasons in Chicago. "The fan base and the excitement opening day brought every year with the optimism that this is going to be the year. I thought that every single year." The Cubs are still waiting for that year. They last won the World Series in 1908, and many of their fans are more interested in the prospects in Chicagos touted farm system than the players on the major league roster. Hours before the home opener, one fan held up a sign near the Cubs dugout that read: "Theres Always Next Year." Chicago got off to a nice start when Castillo went deep in the second inning and Starlin Castro singled home a run in the third, but that was it for the Cubs offence. Utleys first homer of the season, a drive to right-centre in the fifth, gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. He also singled in Ben Revere in the seventh. It was more than enough for Hernandez (1-0), who allowed two runs and three hits while throwing only 73 pitches in 5 1-3 innings. Sandberg said Hernandez hadnt pitched to hitters for nine days because of a weather-related backup, and he pulled the right-hander when his velocity dipped in the sixth. "We had some balls that just missed," rookie Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "They ended up hitting some balls that carried a little bit more. But I think all in all, we did not go in there and have a very good plan of attack in general so it kind of cost us." NOTES: The game-time temperature was 38 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel like 28. ... Phillies LHP Cliff Lee (1-0, 14.40 ERA) faces Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on Saturday ... Renteria said the team is still deciding whether RHP Carlos Villanueva will start the series finale against the Phillies. Villanueva got the loss in Chicagos first two games of the season. Derek Rivers Youth Jersey . The Laval Rouge et Or defensive back/kick-returner gained the invitation following his showing Sunday at an NFL regional combine in Baltimore. Deatrich Wise Jr. Jersey . - The first sign that Kansas Speedway was going to be a heartbreaker for Hendrick Motorsports should have come during qualifying when Jimmie Johnson inexplicably spun and earned one of his worst starting spots since 2005.Matt Le Tissier has picked his Sky Sports Fantasy Six-a-Side team for this weeks selected fixture as Leicester host Newcastle on Monday Night Football. Matt Le Tissier has picked his Sky Sports Fantasy Six-a-Side team as Leicester host Newcastle on Monday Night Football.The table topping Foxes are Sky Bets strong favourites as they look restore their lead to to five points and see off any sort of renaissance from their visitors under new manager Rafael Benitez. Heres who Saints legend Le Tiss has gone for, including his Elite Player pick from Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, Jonjo Shelvey and Georginio Wijnaldum...Riyad MahrezBenitez is going to set his side up to stifle and Mahrez is the player that can produce the sort of magic needed to open them up, just as he did against Watford last weekend.NGolo KanteIn a game youd expect Leicester to dominate, their central midfielders are going to see a lot of the ball and complete a lot of passes, while Id also expect Kante to be top of the interceptions and tackles stats. Derek Rivers Womens Jersey. Danny DrinkwaterId be surprised if another player completes more passes than Drinkwater, while hes also got five assists and a couple of goals to his name this season.Robert HuthHuth is obviously a big threat from set-pieces, which Newcastle dont defend very well at the best of times, while Im expecting Leicester to keep a clean sheet.Kasper SchmeichelI cant see Newcastle scoring so Ill have Claudio Ranieris goalkeeper as well, who should be more than equal to whatever Benitezs attack manage to throw at him.Daryl JanmaatIll have Janmaat in there to complete my team just in case Newcastle do hold out for the goalless draw that theyll be going out to get. The right-back probably one of their best attacking players as well!Think you can beat Le Tiss Sky Sports Fantasy Six-a-Side team? Pick your VI for the chance to win £10,000 here. 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