The Philadelphia Phillies fell behind 3- nothing after a 3 run home run by St. Louis Outfielder Lance Berkman in the 1st inning but Roy Halladay returned to his dominant self, retiring the last 21 batters he faced, leading the Phils over the Cardinals 11-6 at Citizens Bank Park in Pennsylvania on Saturday October 1st. The Phillies exploded for 5 runs in the 6th then added 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th while pounding out 14 hits. 1B Ryan Howard hit a 3 run homer while driving in 4 ,veteran LF Raul Ibanez also homered and drove in 3 runs. Cardinals 2b Skip Schumaker was the only St. Louis Player to collect more than one hit while starter Kyle Lohse lasted 5 and a third innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs( 5 earned). With the win, the Phillies are up 1-0 in the best of five National League division series.
Halladay’s 1st start of the 2011 postseason was not as good as the 2010 opener, when he tossed the 2nd no hitter in playoff history vs. the Cincinnati Reds, but he clearly hit a switch after the rough 3 hit, run first. He was pulled with the team comfortably ahead 11-3 entering the 9th with the following line: 8 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts. He threw 108 pitches(76 for strikes). Reliever Michael Stutes(1st postseason appearance) struggled in the mop up role, giving up 3 runs before Manager Charlie Manuel summoned closer Ryan Madson to secure the win.
GAME NOTES: Phillies RF Hunter Pence was 2 for 5 with 2 runs and rbi in his first postseason game….Halladay threw first pitch strikes to 20 of 28 Cardinals. He also recorded 13 ground ball outs to 3 fly balls…. Cardinals were 6-3 vs the Phillies in the regular season…. Veteran all star 2B Chase Utley scored 3 runs and collected 3 hits…. Cardinals all star LF Matt Holliday did not start due to a hand injury but pinch hit in the 9th…. Since acquiring Pence on July 29th, the Phillies are 8-0 when they have their complete set lineup…. St. Louis with 10 World Series titles trails only the New York Yankees 27
GAME #2: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, 8:37 PM
Phillies LHP Cliff Lee(17-8,2.40 ERA) vs. Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter(11-9,3.45)
NOTE: Carpenter is going on 3 days rest for the first time in his career. He pitched a complete game shutout vs the Houston Astros to clinch the wild card September 28th.
