How some ex-Rattlers did

In the game at Dodger Stadium, David Ortiz ('96) was 0-for-3 in an 8-0 Boston loss.

Justin Leone ('00) went 1-for-2 for the San Francisco Giants in a 7-2 loss to Oakland.

Lehigh Valley drew 10,188 to Coca-Cola Stadium for an exhibition against the Philadelphia Phillies and a couple of ex-Rattlers played for the new Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies. Chris Snelling ('00) was 2-for-3 with a walk for the Iron Pigs. TJ Bohn ('03) was 1-for-3 with a walk. Greg Dobbs ('02) was 0-for-2 for the Phillies. Phillies won 5-3 and Geoff Jenkins hit a home run. Sounds like a good day for the new stadium. No, make that a great day.

Ron Chiavacci peered in from the mound as Jimmy Rollins dug into the first-base side of the batter's box. A few seconds later, Chiavacci slipped a fastball past the reigning National League MVP for a called strike.

At 2:14 p.m., under sunny but crisp skies, the moment that many believed would never come finally came.

Allentown and the Lehigh Valley were back in minor league baseball.

Coca-Cola Park opened in grand style Sunday afternoon when a sellout crowd of 10,188 jammed every corner of the new park to watch the Phillies beat the IronPigs, 5-3, in an exhibition game.

''I think some guys don't realize how big a thing this was around here,'' Chiavacci, the IronPigs' starter, said of the return of affiliated baseball to the Lehigh Valley for the first time in nearly five decades. ''I live in Scranton, so I know how big baseball is around here.''

Oh, and speaking of Snelling

The last 48 hours have been tough on both Chris Snelling and Mike Spidale.

Until Friday Snelling had hopes of making the Phillies roster -- if the team found a taker for Wes Helms, Snelling would likely remain and get a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Spidale broke minor league camp as a member of the IronPigs, seemingly having accomplished his goal of earning a spot on the Triple-A roster.

But when the Phillies host the Nationals today, Helms will be in a Phillies uniform, which means when the IronPigs open the International League season Thursday at Scranton, Snelling will be in a Lehigh Valley uniform.

Snelling was asked one of the obvious questions he gets. His answer:

"'I don't want to think about that,'' Snelling answered when asked whether his health is the only thing that's kept him from being a consistent major league player. ''That's a what-if, and who's to say if I stayed healthy anything could happen. That's just how it is. All I'm looking for is to have some fun.''

Fun in Pennsylvania. Sounds good to me. So does taking a look at some of the other stories on yesterday's Iron Pig game.