It seems like every time we cover a Roy Halladay (4-1, 2.14) game, we talk a little about how the strike zone seemed pinched a bit. Why is that? Is it because we know how well Halladay can pitch and how well he can locate pitches? Cruising through the first eight innings, he walked the first batter of the ninth of four straight pitches. Probably nothing, just saying.
FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver has been making fans cringe with his idiotic sayings that make about as much sense as dressing up your pet for Halloween. True story, he once said during a game ‘Pitching is such a vital part of the game, as far as winning is concerned.’ Pure gold. He even went out on a limb to say that the blood on Curt Schilling‘s sock from the 2004 ALCS looked like Oklahoma.
During today’s game, McCarver made a statement about Halladay that was Chuck Norris-esk. He said ‘Roy Halladay only throws balls when he wants to.’ And maybe just this once, it actually made sense. McCarver said this after Halladay had thrown 10 consecutive strikes to start the game.
Halladay would go on to throw 18 straight strikes to Mets hitters. The first ball he threw was to Jose Reyes, the second time through the line up. The first inning took six pitches. The second inning; five.
For the season Halladay has thrown 16 innings and only allowed one run while striking out 15 batters. He stays undefeated (6-0) against the Mets while with the Phillies.
The Phillies stayed perfect in day games (10-0) and set a new record for wins the month of April with 18.
Placido Polanco continues to hit picking up two more hits to raise his average to .398. He also had the lead taking/game winning RBI in the seventh inning for the Phillies. The 2-1 score would hold up giving the Mets their third straight loss after winning six in a row. Polanco added to his already new record for most hits in April with 41 now.
John Mayberry Jr. got the Phillies on the board with a home run, his first, in the seventh inning to tie the game at one. Five batters later, Polanco hit a sacrifice fly to score Wilson Valdez.
Mayberry also collected two hits to raise his average to .345. Although his is a super small sample size (29 at bats), I really like what Mayberry is doing at the plate. His home run was on an off speed pitch and we all know the trouble he was having with those this year.
I am not campaigning for a full on Mayberry front in left field, but a platoon with Raul Ibanez while facing lefties pitching could provide a good spark to this line up.
The Phillies have now taken four out of five games from the Mets this season and will look to Cliff Lee tomorrow to complete the series sweep.
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