It was another scorcher in Philadelphia, but this time, thankfully not as hot as it was last week in Chicago.
Coming off a poor outing mired by heat and a stomach ailment, Roy Halladay needed to bounce back on another hot day in Philadelphia. The right-hander made it to eight innings as the Phillies beat the Padres, 5-3, and locking down their ninth straight series win.
Halladay was at 91 pitches through five innings, showing signs of another short start. But he got three quick innings in the 6th, 7th and 8th to finish with 116 pitches. He allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out eight, tying Cole Hamels for a team-high 12 wins.
Halladay’s resources were tapped in the 1st inning. He allowed a lead off single on the first pitch to Cameron Maybin, who stole second to get into scoring position. Chase Headly drove in the run with Maybing scoring easily thanks to a wide throw by Domonic Brown.
The Phils answered right back in the 1st, tying the game on an RBI single by Shane Victorino and taking the 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Raul Ibanez.
The Phils exploded in the 3rd inning when Raul Ibanez drove in his second RBI of the game on a single. Carlos Ruiz followed two batters later with a two-run double to bring home Ibanez and Brown.
San Diego got two runs back in the 4th but couldn’t get any closer than that.
Ibanez had a shot to extend the lead in the bottom of the 7th. He sent a Josh Spence pitch deep to right center that would have landed in the Padres bull pen if it weren’t for center fielder Chris Denorfia. Denorfia leaped and made the catch over the wall, robbing Ibanez of his third RBI on the afternoon.
For the second time this series, Brad Lidge warmed up in the bull pen but was sat down. He has yet to make an appearance this season.
2B: Ibanez (19), Howard (19), Ruiz (14).
WP: Halladay (12-4). LP: Stauffer (6-7). S: Bastardo (8).
TTB 