PHILADELPHIA -- Other than the normally chilly April weather, everything about Monday's season-opening 8-4 win had a new car smell, from the new visiting city of the opposition, to the home team's new manager, center fielder and starting pitcher.

The latter two produced big time in Philadelphia's 8-4 win over Washington, a city represented in a Major League game for the first time in 34 years.

"That was a big game, and we did pretty good," said Charlie Manuel, who managed a big league game for the first time since midway through the 2002 season. "It was good to get that one out of the way."

Kenny Lofton was instrumental in that win, despite being limited in Spring Training because of a strained left hamstring. Turns out he didn't have to test it on Monday -- he mostly needed to jog instead of run.

Lofton made a splash in his Citizens Bank Park debut, belting a three-run homer in the victory over Washington's newest Major League franchise. He also walked twice, singled and scored two runs.

"All I was trying to do was get a hit, and it went out of the ballpark," said Lofton. "I like this park."

His shot off Livan Hernandez (0-1) curled around the right-field fence and was the lone homer in a relentless 14-hit attack that for the most part omitted Jim Thome and Bobby Abreu. That pair combined for one hit and two runs scored.

The offense earned new ace Jon Lieber (1-0) a win in his Phillies debut. The righty wasn't particularly sharp -- allowing three runs on 10 hits and throwing 99 pitches in 5 2/3 innings.

Lieber and Lofton, who spent last season as Yankees teammates, made early first impressions in Philadelphia. Lofton, 37, didn't see much Grapefruit League action because he injured his hamstring on March 11. After more than two weeks, he played in minor league games and returned for Sunday's exhibition game against the Tigers.

The layoff didn't matter.

"I think a lot of people say that you need this many at-bats [to be ready] or whatever," Lofton said. "You don't need anything. You just need to see the ball and feel comfortable. You might need two at-bats to feel comfortable. I feel comfortable now."

Lieber, signed to a three-year, $21 million deal in the winter, had the best ERA among Phillies starters this spring at 4.09, though he allowed 31 hits in 22 innings. The 34-year-old was making his sixth career Opening Day start.

In seven Opening Day appearances, Lieber is 2-1 with a 4.21 ERA. Save for a second-inning RBI double by Brian Schneider, Lieber had a pain-free five innings before tiring in the sixth. He recorded the first two outs in the sixth, then allowed four straight batters to reach. Vinny Castilla singled and scored on Terrmel Sledge's homer.

"I was a little frustrated there," Lieber said. "I started leaving too many pitches out over the plate."

After a walk to Schneider and a single by J.J. Davis, Lieber was removed for Rheal Cormier. Billy Wagner pitched the ninth.

Philadelphia scored two runs in the second and a run in third, then erupted for four runs in the fifth, three coming on Lofton's first homer. Pat Burrell was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

For those looking for a good omen: The last time Philadelphia won an Opening Day game at home was 1980, when they beat the Expos, 6-3, and went on to win the World Series.

Not that anyone is engraving any World Series trophies. Still, this represents a nice change from last season, when the team started the season 1-6.

"It's always nice to start the season off well, and we'd love to win a bunch of games in a row," said Rheal Cormier. "We just have to keep going from here, and there's a lot more games left."

Or as Wagner put it, "Spring Training is two months too long. It's good that the season is here."