A day after Jamie Moyer was lit up for five runs, Roy Halladay took the hill and for the most part dominated the Astros. Halladay went all nine innings and worked out of a few jams to improve to 2-0 on the year. The Phillies are now 5-1 to start 2010 and are finally headed home.
If there is one thing I have noticed about this Phillies team, it is their plate discipline. Coming into today's game they walked 38 times and struck out 26, which is a fantastic stat. Jimmy Rollins got the Phillies on top early with a lead-off home run into the right field seats on the second pitch of the game.
The Phillies would strike again in the second inning. Raul Ibanez doubled and Victorino followed with a single to move Raul to third. Carlos Ruiz managed an RBI ground-out to plate Ibanez and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
The Astros tried to capitalize in the bottom of the second but Ruiz caught former Phillie, Pedro Feliz, stealing second. Things would be quiet until the bottom of sixth. Pinch hitter Chris Johnson singled and Michael Bourn reached on a bunt single. Jeff Keppinger reached on a throwing error by Halladay. Halladay tried to get the force out at third but slightly overthrew Polanco. This would load the bases with none out...but why worry? Roy Halladay is on the mound. Cory Sullivan stepped up and grounded into a double play off of a fantastic sinker by Halladay. A run would score to cut the lead to 2-1. Doc would get Carlos Lee on an infield pop up to avoid any more damage.
The Astros would threaten again against Halladay in the bottom of the seventh. They got two men on with none out. They were sacrificed over to second and third base. Halladay didn't skip a beat as he snagged a JR Towles grounder at the mound to hold the runners. Jason Michaels would strike out on three pitches to end the inning.
Halladay struck out two of three in the eighth and got a fly out, ground out and a pop out to end the game. The complete game marked the 50th for Halladay in his career. It was also his 150th career win. He finished by giving up just that one run which was unearned off of seven hits and he struck out eight. This lowered his season ERA to 0.56.
What I failed to mention was the effectiveness of Houston starter, Roy Oswalt. Besides his mistake to Rollins and the other run, he silenced the Phillies bats in six innings. He struck out eight, including three for Howard and two for Werth.
APTER THOUGHTS...Well, Roy Halladay impressed again but he sure didn't blow the Astros away. Doc worked his way through some tough innings without losing his composure or his command. Today was a good one to see him go all nine without too much of a struggle. Roy is a work horse and showed today why he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Did i mention he did not walk a batter?...None the less, a milestone of a day for Doc as he notched his 50th career complete game and 150th win.
The bats were rather quiet today. Ryan Howard struck out three times but on relatively good pitches. Polanco surprisingly went without a hit to drop his average to .481 this season. Jimmy Rollins was a bright spot today with his homer as he tallied two hits in his four plate appearances.
The Phillies swept the Astros to sink them to 0-6 on the young season.
Up next...The Phillies return home for this first time this season for their home opener against the Nationals. Cole Hamels (1-0, 3.60) will look to rebound from a rather short outing last time out as he will sqaure off against Jason Marquis (0-1, 13.60).
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