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Phillies Do Something They Haven’t Done in San Francisco Since 2014

By Coggin Toboggan

Published: Apr 7th, 2026 · 9:03 AM EDT

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The Phillies did something in San Francisco last night that they haven’t done in the last 12 years.

Thanks to some late game heroics and Bryce Harper remembering how to hit, the Phillies took game one of a series against the Giants in San Francisco, which they haven’t done since 2014. Every single series they’ve played in San Francisco against the Giants since the god forsaken year of 2014 they have dropped the first game of a series.

I’m channeling my inner Chris Wheeler for this one….but baseball sure is a wacky game sometimes.

The last time the Phillies won a Game 1 in SF…

Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche homered.
Ken Giles got the Win.

…in 2014

— Marc Farzetta (@MarcFarzetta) April 7, 2026

The Giants have historically crushed the Phillies, holding a 1,159-826 all-time record, and have destroyed them in San Francisco. At home, the Giants hold a 648-352 record against the Phillies, good for a 64.8% winning percentage, so last night’s win was incredibly rare. Perhaps a harbinger of things to come this year?! Always smart to point to an “omen” 10 games into a 162 game season. Never backfires.

The last time the Phillies won the first game in a series against the Giants being playing in San Francisco, Ben Revere led off for the Fightins, Jimmy Rollins hit second, and Darin Ruf haunted left field during the 5-3 win in the City of the Bay. Here’s the full lineup during the game, which Cole Hamels started.

1. Ben Revere (CF)
2. Jimmy Rollins (SS)
3. Chase Utley (2B)
4. Ryan Howard (1B)
5. Marlon Byrd (RF)
6. Carlos Ruiz (C)
7. Darin Ruf (LF)
8. Cody Asche (3B)
9. Cole Hamels (P)

EWW. Both Grady Sizemore and Andres Blanco pinch hit for the Phillies in this one as well, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Ken Giles got the win. Jonathan Papelbon got the save. I feel dirty just writing that.

Those were some dark days for the Phillies, still holding onto the scraps and memories of their run from 2007 to 2011, not yet understanding that the “young guns” of Ruf, Revere, and Asche likely weren’t going to lead the team back to the promised land. My god we were all so blind to just how terrible any of these prospects were…I do believe more than one person in the Philadelphia sports media proclaimed Asche as the “next” Utley. THE KID’S GOT GRIT.

He was out of baseball by 2017. Utley played until 2018. He wasn’t even the next David Bell.