As usual on Opening Day, the players came into Citizens Bank Park from the back and via Ashburn Alley.
They walked down some makeshift stairs and through lines of fans that extended almost to the infield. 
A huge flag was unfurled in the outfield as the flags of all fifty states were carried onto the infield. 
The Astros lined up in front of the visitors' dugout on the 3rd base side while the Phillies, resplendent in red jackets, lined up along the 1st base side. 
Starting pitcher Roy Halladay was warming up in the dugout. Yes, Roy Halladay was the Opening Day pitcher. The last time I saw him pitch in person he was throwing a no-hitter in the post-season. And today it's Cliff Lee, who, quite predictably, got the biggest roar in the intros on Opening Day. Pinch me again. It took some 9th-inning magic but the Phillies got the job done. Through eight innings, they had just four hits against former-Phillie Brett Myers, who was uncharacteristically stingy with his pitches. Myers lasted seven, giving up just one earned run. Roy Halladay went six innings, giving up just five hits and one run and striking out six. (The Phillies, interestingly, made no strike outs.)
Another former-Phillie, Michael Bourn, helped give the Astros three more runs in the 7th, off of David Herndon. Danys Baez, however, kept the Astros lead to 4-2 in the 9th. 'High hopes' were alive. Jimmy Rollins, batting third in place of the injured Chase Utley, led off with a single. Ryan Howard muscled another single up the middle. Ibanez then popped out. Rollins stole 3rd and Howard smartly stayed at 1st. Francisco singled to make it 4-3. Ruiz singled. With the bases loaded, Wilson Valdez singled to tie the game. Then up came pinch-hitter John Mayberry, Jr. in his first opening day game. And the former IronPig came through! He singled over Michael Bourn's head in center field and, with six improbable singles in the 9th, the Phillies had kept the line moving and come back to win 5-4. It was time for High Hopes, Harry Kalas' signature song, which is played after every Phillie victory. The fans could just as easily have been singing Seems Like Old Times, because it was one of those signature Phillie wins, playing the full 27 outs in a total team effort.
Game time temperature was 41, with overcast skies, a slight drizzle, and daunting winds. The drizzle finally stopped but the day only got colder and colder. I was surprised that the people in the upper deck did not start fires. It must have been wicked up there. It was another sell-out crowd of 45,237. It was also just the second time since Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004 that the Phillies, historically bad in home openers, won the season opener.
It was too cool to see Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt experience their first Opening Day in Philadelphia. Also, to see John Mayberry, Jr. and Michael Martinez in their first opening days in the majors.
