Phillies Top Rangers 5-3 on Opening Day

Cristopher Sanchez strikes out 10 in six scoreless innings as Schwarber and Bohm homer for Philadelphia

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:20am

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Cristopher Sanchez struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings and Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm each homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Opening Day.

Why it matters

The Phillies are looking to build on a strong 2025 season and get off to a good start in 2026, while the Rangers are hoping to bounce back after a disappointing campaign last year.

The details

Sanchez, who signed a six-year contract extension on Sunday, was dominant on the mound, striking out the side in the sixth inning. Schwarber hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Bohm added a three-run shot in the fifth to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead. Jake Burger hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Rangers, but Jhoan Duran came in to record the save.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 26, 2026, on Opening Day for both teams.
  • Sanchez struck out the side in the sixth inning.

The players

Cristopher Sanchez

The Phillies starting pitcher, who struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings.

Kyle Schwarber

The Phillies outfielder, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning.

Alec Bohm

The Phillies third baseman, who hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Jake Burger

The Rangers third baseman, who hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

Jhoan Duran

The Phillies relief pitcher, who recorded the save in the ninth inning.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The Phillies' strong pitching and timely hitting were the keys to their Opening Day victory, as they look to build momentum for the 2026 season.