March 31, 2014, 4:00 p.m.
@Philabaseball
Maybe Jimmy Rollins was on to something earlier this month when he said spring statistics shouldn't be taken too seriously.
The Phillies, who finished spring training with the worst offense in the majors, erupted for 17 hits and batted around twice to trump the Rangers on Monday afternoon at Global Life Park in Arlington, 14-10.
Rollins highlighted a six run second inning with a grand slam off Rangers starter Tanner Scheppers. The home run was the 200th of Rollins' career, making him just the 19th player in major league history to record 400 doubles, 100 triples and 200 homers.
The Rangers answered back, tagging Cliff Lee for seven unanswered runs before the Phillies tied the contest in the fourth and took the lead for good in the fifth on a two run RBI double to center from John Mayberry Jr.
Ben Revere finished with three hits for the Phillies and collected three RBIs. Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche each homered in the winning effort.
Cliff Lee surrendered a career high eight runs on 11 hits over five innings.
"Cliff was working a bit too much down the middle of the plate
and he was elevated in the zone," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "The offense picked him up and he
battled through the five innings to get the win."
Scheppers, making his first career start, allowed seven runs on eight hits. Alex Rios and Josh Wilson each collected three RBIs for the Rangers in the loss.
- The Philadelphia Baseball Review is the top baseball news blog in Philadelphia, providing news coverage and analysis of the 2014 Phillies and baseball in the Philadelphia region.
