Phillies offense offers a boost

• The Phillies tagged Texas pitching for 14 runs and 17 hits
• Lee allows eight runs and 11 hits%2C but gets the win

ARLINGTON, Texas – Around 15 minutes after the final pitch Monday, a smiling Ryne Sandberg walked out of the visitors' clubhouse at Globe Life Park and greeted a swarm of cameras.

There were plenty of reasons for the grin after the Phillies' up-and-down 14-10 win on opening day at the Rangers. The Phillies tagged Texas pitchers for 17 hits. The 14 runs were the most the Phillies have scored on opening day since they put 19 on the Boston Braves in 1900.

With the outburst came the statement win Sandberg desired.

"It was right on time. It all worked," Sandberg said. "It all came through."

Many have already counted out this Phillies team, a squad filled with aging veterans and a few bad contracts. Few think a team that won 73 games last year can do much better.

"You know me, I really don't care," Jimmy Rollins said. "We will prove it on the field, or we won't prove it on the field. But we plan to prove it on the field."

Monday's win was only one game, but it was quite a way to begin the season. And it was all done while the Phillies' most reliable pitcher, Cliff Lee, faltered.

Lee (1-0) gave up eight runs and 11 hits in five innings Monday. It was the fourth time in Lee's career that he's given up eight runs, and he's the ninth pitcher in major league history to record a win after giving up eight and pitching five innings or fewer.

His performance ended a streak of 99 consecutive starts with six earned runs or fewer, which was the longest active streak in the majors. It also ended a string of 89 consecutive starts in which Lee struck out two or more hitters. He only struck out one Monday.

"I missed over the plate quite a bit," Lee said.

The Phillies even gave Lee a 6-0 lead, fueled by Rollins' grand slam in the second inning. It was Rollins' 200th career home run, but the advantage did not last long.

Lee gave up seven runs in the second and third innings combined. Alex Rios' third-inning, three-run home run was an exclamation to the furious rally.

After the game, Lee was visibly aggravated at his performance. His cutter was not effective, Lee said, and without it he became a fastball pitcher. The Rangers feasted on Lee's surplus of over-the-plate heaters.

"They weren't all good pitches. They scored eight runs in five innings, so I made several mistakes," Lee said. "Obviously I didn't pitch well, but we scored enough runs to make up for it. That was huge."

Lee's counterpart, Tanner Scheppers, lasted just four innings and gave up seven earned runs in his first major league start. Thanks to a bevy of pitching injuries, Scheppers was forced into the rotation and ultimately an opening day start. The Phillies had their way with him.

Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche also homered, both solo shots. Ben Revere went 3 for 6 with three RBIs and scored two more. Ryan Howard reached base in three of his six plate appearances. John Mayberry Jr. also drove in two runs on a pinch-hit double in the fifth.

And with the offensive explosion, the Phillies start 1-0, the first time they've been over .500 since July 19 of last season. A long season lies ahead, but from an offensive standpoint, 2014 couldn't have started much better.

"It's one game out of 162, but you definitely want to use that game to set the tone," Howard said. "It's special."

Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@delawareonline.com.