April 2009 Philadelphia Phillies season

ryan howard (pictured) , raúl ibañez hit grand slams in same game against washington nationals.

the phillies began 2009 season in front of sold-out crowd of 44,532 @ citizens bank park on april 5, playing against atlanta braves. phillies, scheduled play in afternoon of april 6, earned distinction of playing opening game of entire 2009 major league baseball season after winning 2008 world series. lost opener 4–1 division-rival braves, new ace, derek lowe, pitched 8 shutout innings. phillies lost next game, , in danger of losing following night , dropping 0–3 before scoring 8 runs in bottom of seventh inning 12–11 come-from-behind win. phillies lost first game in denver, came behind again in next 2 games take second series colorado rockies. phillies defeated washington nationals in opener of third series, hours after death of hall of fame broadcaster harry kalas, lost third scheduled game of series after second cancelled due weather. in series against san diego padres, phillies dropped first 2 games well; during second game, closer brad lidge blew first save in phillies uniform, breaking streak of 47 consecutive saves extending 2007 regular season. phillies won sunday afternoon matinee against padres, 5–4, on walk-off home run ibáñez after trailing entire game.

the phillies offense benefited rest due postponement of final game of padres series, defeated milwaukee brewers in opener of mid-week series, 11–4. next 2 games did not go smoothly, phillies shut out through 8 innings in second game , no-hit brewers starter dave bush in third game. phillies starter cole hamels hit line drive in fourth inning , exited game; before departing, had retired 9 out of ten batters faced. hitting road series against division-leading florida marlins, phillies shut out through 8 innings in first game of series, score 7 runs in top of ninth against power-throwing closer matt lindstrom, winning game, 7–3, shane victorino s first career regular season grand slam. following night s game offered come-from-behind win phillies, trailed in ninth again win in innings, 6–4, , 13–2 victory on april 26 capped team s first series sweep. hosting washington second series against nationals, phillies fell behind in seventh inning before grand slam ibáñez capped 13–11 victory; combined ryan howard s game-tying grand slam in fifth inning, fourth time in phillies history teammates hit grand slams in same game. phillies split remaining 2 games of series washington, finishing april record of 11–9, second consecutive winning april.