Philadelphia put two runners on in both the ninth and 10th innings but failed to execute.

The biggest misstep came after Pence worked Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan for a leadoff walk in the ninth. Lanyce Nix tried three times to put down a sacrifice to move Nix to second, popping his final attempt high into the air for a harmless out.

“I just didn’t do it; there’s no excuses,” Nix said. “I just got to get that down.”

Hanrahan escaped and Juan Cruz (1-0) followed suit in the 10th after Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins hit back-to-back singles with two outs. It opened the door for the Pirates.

Rod Barajas, brought in by the Pirates to provide some power, doubled off Philadelphia reliever Joe Blanton (0-1) leading off the 10th and pinch-runner Mike McKenry came home three batters later when Presley hit a chopper to short then beat Rollins’ throw to first by a hair.

“I know this sounds kind of odd to say we really needed to win what was only the second game of the season but we did need a win,” Barajas said. “We had a tough opener against a great pitcher and … we really fought hard and it would have been very difficult to lose this game. It was a really good win for us.”

“I was really running as hard as I could,” Presley said. “I knew when my foot hit the bag that I was safe. I know it might not have looked like it because I started jogging right after I hit the bag but I know I beat the throw.”

Polanco and Shane Victorino had two hits apiece for Philadelphia but the Phillies have managed just two runs in the season’s first 19 innings.

Still, it was almost enough for the five-time defending NL East champions to stay perfect.

Lee nearly matched Halladay’s dominance in the opener. Halladay limited Pittsburgh to just two hits — both in the first inning — in a 1-0 victory.

Pittsburgh managed to hit the ball out of the infield just once during the lefthander’s first two trips through the lineup before finally the Pirates finally broke through for their first run of the season in the sixth.

Pinch-hitter Yamaico Navarro walked with one out, Jose Tabata followed with a single up the middle and Navarro scored two batters later when a pitch skipped past Ruiz allowing Navarro to end a 14-inning scoreless drought and tie the game.

“It happened pretty fast,” Lee said. “I felt like we got a perfect bounce there off the backstop and we had time to get a play on him, it was just kind of a tough throw.”

It was the only mistake during an otherwise flawless night by Lee, who gave up one run on two hits in six innings, walking two and striking out four.

Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens, like Erik Bedard on opening day, did his best to keep pace. Coming off a year in which he revived his career — going 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA — Karstens kept the Phillies off balance with his typical mix of offspeed pitches.

Karstens didn’t allow a runner past second in his final five innings, giving up one run on five hits with one walk and two strikes.

NOTES: OF Laynce Nix played first base for Philadelphia, just his seventh career start at the position in his 10-year career. . Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Jim Thome might start at first base Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. It would be Thome’s first time at 1B since 2007 when he was serving primarily as the DH for the Chicago White Sox . Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton, on the disabled list while recovering from hip surgery, is schedule to make a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis. If that goes well, he will be activated April 14 at San Francisco. . Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (eye) made his first rehab start for high Class A Bradenton on Friday night and gave up one run and two hits in 4 2-3 innings against St. Lucie in a Florida State League game. He walked one and struck out five. . RHP Vance Worley is scheduled to start Sunday for the Phillies against RHP James McDonald.

Philadelphia put two runners on in both the ninth and 10th innings but failed to execute.

The biggest misstep came after Pence worked Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan for a leadoff walk in the ninth. Lanyce Nix tried three times to put down a sacrifice to move Nix to second, popping his final attempt high into the air for a harmless out.

“I just didn’t do it; there’s no excuses,” Nix said. “I just got to get that down.”

Hanrahan escaped and Juan Cruz (1-0) followed suit in the 10th after Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins hit back-to-back singles with two outs. It opened the door for the Pirates.

Rod Barajas, brought in by the Pirates to provide some power, doubled off Philadelphia reliever Joe Blanton (0-1) leading off the 10th and pinch-runner Mike McKenry came home three batters later when Presley hit a chopper to short then beat Rollins’ throw to first by a hair.

“I know this sounds kind of odd to say we really needed to win what was only the second game of the season but we did need a win,” Barajas said. “We had a tough opener against a great pitcher and … we really fought hard and it would have been very difficult to lose this game. It was a really good win for us.”

“I was really running as hard as I could,” Presley said. “I knew when my foot hit the bag that I was safe. I know it might not have looked like it because I started jogging right after I hit the bag but I know I beat the throw.”

Polanco and Shane Victorino had two hits apiece for Philadelphia but the Phillies have managed just two runs in the season’s first 19 innings.

Still, it was almost enough for the five-time defending NL East champions to stay perfect.

Lee nearly matched Halladay’s dominance in the opener. Halladay limited Pittsburgh to just two hits — both in the first inning — in a 1-0 victory.

Pittsburgh managed to hit the ball out of the infield just once during the lefthander’s first two trips through the lineup before finally the Pirates finally broke through for their first run of the season in the sixth.

Pinch-hitter Yamaico Navarro walked with one out, Jose Tabata followed with a single up the middle and Navarro scored two batters later when a pitch skipped past Ruiz allowing Navarro to end a 14-inning scoreless drought and tie the game.

“It happened pretty fast,” Lee said. “I felt like we got a perfect bounce there off the backstop and we had time to get a play on him, it was just kind of a tough throw.”

It was the only mistake during an otherwise flawless night by Lee, who gave up one run on two hits in six innings, walking two and striking out four.

Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens, like Erik Bedard on opening day, did his best to keep pace. Coming off a year in which he revived his career — going 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA — Karstens kept the Phillies off balance with his typical mix of offspeed pitches.

Karstens didn’t allow a runner past second in his final five innings, giving up one run on five hits with one walk and two strikes.

NOTES: OF Laynce Nix played first base for Philadelphia, just his seventh career start at the position in his 10-year career. . Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Jim Thome might start at first base Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. It would be Thome’s first time at 1B since 2007 when he was serving primarily as the DH for the Chicago White Sox . Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton, on the disabled list while recovering from hip surgery, is schedule to make a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis. If that goes well, he will be activated April 14 at San Francisco. . Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (eye) made his first rehab start for high Class A Bradenton on Friday night and gave up one run and two hits in 4 2-3 innings against St. Lucie in a Florida State League game. He walked one and struck out five. . RHP Vance Worley is scheduled to start Sunday for the Phillies against RHP James McDonald.

Carlos Ruiz had three hits for the Phillies. His sacrifice fly in the seventh provided all the run support Halladay needed.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his first save in the National League.

Pirates starter Erik Bedard nearly matched Halladay pitch for pitch, giving up only one run in seven innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Despite Bedard’s strong effort, the Pirates lost their first season opener since 2006.

Ty Wigginton, filling in while star Ryan Howard continues to rehab his left Achilles, singled with one out in the seventh and John Mayberry followed with a double to right. Ruiz hit a fading liner to right and Jose Tabata made the catch, but Wigginton slid under catcher Rod Barajas’ tag to give Philadelphia the lead.

It was just a run, but it was plenty for Halladay.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle has preached the word “finish” as the team’s mantra after the Pirates collapsed during a brief flirtation with first place last July. Hurdle’s team could never get started, however, against Halladay.

Baseball’s best pitcher over the last decade gave up singles to Alex Presley and Jose Tabata to start the game, eerily similar to the two hits he allowed against St. Louis in that Game 5 last fall. The Cardinals, however, turned those hits into the game’s only run.

Pittsburgh — which brought in veterans Clint Barmes and Barajas to help kick-start one of baseball’s weakest offenses last season — didn’t get that close. Andrew McCutchen, who signed a $51 million deal last month as the linchpin of the Pirates’ rebuilding project, grounded into a double play and Neil Walker flied out to end the first-inning threat.

That was the only chance the Pirates got against Halladay. Pittsburgh’s only two baserunners over the final eight innings came on hit batters.

Bedard tried to his best to keep pace. The injury-plagued lefty insisted he wasn’t concerned about being a No. 1 starter when he signed with the Pirates in December, but he became one by default after A.J. Burnett broke a bone in his face during a botched bunting drill in spring training.

Though he has shown flashes of brilliance during his career, Bedard has spent more time on the disabled list than on the mound since 2007, including missing the entire 2010 season due to left shoulder surgery. He bounced back in 2011 while splitting time between Seattle and Boston — going 5-9 with a respectable 3.62 ERA — and viewed his trip to Pittsburgh as a chance to re-establish himself.

Mixing speeds and locating his curveball expertly, Bedard quickly worked his way through Philadelphia’s patchwork lineup that was missing injured stars Chase Utley and Howard. Bedard’s only bobble came in the seventh, but it was enough to prevent the Pirates from improving to 6-0 all-time in opening day games against the Phillies.

NOTES: Burnett, on the 15-day DL, joined the Pirates for opening day festivities but is expected to start for Class A Bradenton on Friday. He is eligible to return on April 10 … Halladay’s 10 opening day starts are tied for the fourth-most in baseball history … The two teams are off Friday and meet again Saturday. Jeff Karstens will start for the Pirates while Cliff Lee gets the nod for Philadelphia.

“I can say I’m a Steeler for life and that’s the bottom line, that’s all I’ve really ever wanted,” Ward said.

Ward holds every significant franchise receiving record, including receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. His 1,000 career catches rank eighth all time and he is one of two players with at least 1,000 receptions and two Super Bowl rings.

The decision comes three weeks after the 36-year-old was released by the Steelers in a salary cap maneuver. Ward says he was contacted by several clubs but never had any formal discussions. He insists there are no hard feelings for his release, understanding that football is a business. As if to prove the point, Ward embraced Steelers owner Art Rooney II after stepping away from the podium following the announcement.

“Thank you (Mr. Rooney) for giving a small town boy from Forest Park, Ga., a chance,” Ward said.

The former third-round pick out of Georgia was due to make $4 million next season, an expensive option for a player whose role diminished significantly in 2011 when he finished with 46 receptions, the fewest since his rookie season in 1998. He embraced his role as mentor to Pro Bowlers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown even though he knew they were chewing into his playing time.

“I know the wideouts are going to be in great hands,” he said. “They’re full of talent.”

And they’re part of an offense that didn’t exist when Ward made his debut 14 years ago. He spent most of his first three seasons blocking for running back Jerome Bettis, something he did better than any receiver in the league.

Over time, the Steelers evolved from the grind-it-out attack that has been the club’s identity for decades. Ward’s breakout season came in 2001 when he set a franchise record with 94 receptions then obliterated that mark in 2002 when he finished with 112 catches.

He made four straight Pro Bowls from 2001-2004 and seemed to get better as he aged. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Super Bowl after catching five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s 21-10 victory over Seattle, the franchise’s first championship in 26 years. The Steelers added a second title in 2009 to give them six, more than any other team in the league.

Ward hoped to get the Steelers their seventh Lombardi Trophy but didn’t catch a pass in a 29-23 overtime loss to Denver in the wild card round of last year’s playoffs. Only one pass came his way, a dart down the sideline by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during Pittsburgh’s final drive in regulation. Denver cornerback Champ Bailey swatted the ball to the ground and Ward walked off the field and into the unknown.

The former “Dancing With the Stars” champion could have a lucrative postseason career in front of a camera — he worked the red carpet during the Oscars — but he maintained after his release he could still contribute. He still does.

“I feel like I have a few more good years in me left, Ward said. “I would love nothing more to get back to the Super Bowl.”

He wasn’t willing to do it, however, outside Pittsburgh.

“I want to go down as one of the greats to wear the black-and-gold and that’s how it should end,” Ward said.

Ward laughed when asked if he could go into coaching one day, taking a jab at coach Mike Tomlin, who isn’t sure how Ward’s passion would play in the locker room. One of the most respected players in the league because of his contributions on and off the field, Ward leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

“On behalf of the NFL players, I want congratulate Hines on an extraordinary career,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. “I know he will continue to be a leader and example to our men.”

Ward’s already started by urging Wallace to do what he can to remain with the Steelers.

“I told Mike you may get a chance to go other places but there’s not another place like Pittsburgh,” Ward said.

Certainly not for Ward. His No. 86 jersey has long been one of the team’s top sellers, and his blue-collar attitude rang true to a fan base where hard work is a way of life. Ward understands the unique relationship the Steelers have with the city and to tarnish it by making a last-gasp attempt to pad his career stats didn’t interest him.

“I want my legacy here to say, you know what he was one hell of a football player who gave it his all,” Ward said. “I’m truly blessed. I played in three Super Bowls, won two Super Bowls, was Super Bowl MVP … what more could a player want out of his entire football career?”