Derek Lowe Has a Special Kind of Opening Day

Derek Lowe—8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

The Atlanta Journal’s Braves beat writer Dave O’ Brien had an interview with Derek Lowe towards the end of spring training. In this interview, DOB asked Derek “How do you feel the day after a start?” Lowe replied with a straight face, “Sexy.” This kinda sums up Lowe’s personality. He is a very calm, confident guy who handles pressure well, and enjoys a good joke.

While he has made other OD starts, he has never been the “ace” of a staff before, but he certainly looked like one Sunday. And this stat of the day from baseballreference.com illustrates just how special his OD truly was.

In tonight’s opening game, Derek Lowe pitched eight shutout innings while allowing only two base runners to reach base. According to play index, since 1954 no pitcher has pitched as many shutout innings on opening day and allowed as few base runners.

Jordan Schafer also had a more than solid major league debut, hammering a pitch to the deep part of Citizens Bank Park off of Brett Myers. He also battled a long count later in the game as he was able to shoot one up the middle for a base hit. It’s a shame that he was hitting eighth, with the pitcher at bat and two outs it really wasn’t a running situation.

Schafer became the 99th player in MLB history to homer in his first AB. That is a great way to start; the best way, even. But considering a pitcher (Adam Wainwright) is also on the list, it isn’t a good indicator of future success at the plate.

SEASON OPENER: BRAVES 4, PHILLIES 1: Off to a flying start [Dave O Brien / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]