Victorino plays at CBP for first time since trade

PHILADELPHIA >> It wasn’t the first time Shane Victorino had seen his former teammates - there have been plenty of spring-training powwows. And it wasn’t the first time he’d been back at Citizens Bank Park - he had been in the dugout with the Red Sox in 2013 while on the disabled list.

But when it came to digging into the batter’s box where he became a household name and All-Star outfielder with the Phillies, Monday was the first time the Flyin’ Hawaiian was there, in a game. The fans who have watched the Phillies unravel in the years since he was traded to the Dodgers in the middle of the 2012 season knew, and when his name was announced as the second batter of the second inning, they stood and cheered loudly and persistently enough that Victorino had to step out of the box, take off his helmet, and acknowledge it.

Victorino had back surgery last season, and his goal was to be ready to be in the starting lineup for Opening Day 2015. He reached that goal, and that it happened in Philly was an added notch in his belt.

“There was a date I had circled on my calendar,” Victorino said, “and that was today here in Philadelphia.”

Victorino drew a walk off Cole Hamels in his first plate appearance, then coaxed a balk out of Hamels to advance to second. With two outs, he stole third base without a throw before Hamels got out of the jam.

Victorino, who started in right, went 0-for-3 with two walks.

“He was a great teammate and a good friend. He’s definitely missed,” Hamels said of Victorino. “When you face a guy like that under the circumstances, you definitely want to get him out. It’s nice to see him back, especially with the injuries he’s had the last couple of years.”

•••

It appears that Chad Billingsley’s progress might be ahead of schedule as the veteran right-hander tries to push his way into a thin Phillies’ rotation that could use the depth. Billingsley was with the team during the Opening Day ceremonies and is expected to make a start with one of the minor-league affil- iates over the weekend. It seems unlikely he will be ready to make a start for the Phils when they need a fifth starter for the first time April 15, but there’s a chance the Phils could get through that game with the bullpen doing the work, then have Billingsley when they next need a No. 5, which could be as late as April 25.

•••

The Red Sox announced after the game they had agreed to a four-year contract extension with starting pitcher Rick Porcello, whom they acquired in the offseason in a deal with De- troit that helped make the pursuit of Hamels unnecessary. Porcello makes his Red Sox debut Wednesday when the series with the Phils continues.

Aaron Harang makes his Philly debut. Thursday’s series finale has David Buchanan opposing Justin Masterson

•••

This was the first time the Phillies had given up five or more homers to an opponent in a shutout loss. The last time an opponent had five or more HRs against the Phils was in a 12-6 loss to the Blue Jays May 8, 2014.

CHRIS SZAGOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Shane Victorino smiles next to Chase Utley during the fifth inning of the Red Sox 8-0win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park Monday. Victorino played at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since being traded by the Phillies in 2012.

CHRIS SZAGOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cancer survivor Julie Kramer gets a hug from Phillies second baseman Chase Utley after throwing out one of the first pitches prior to Monday’s game.