Halladay halts Reds with strong effort
CINCINNATI -- Roy Halladay continues to regain his stamina after missing nearly two months with a shoulder strain. On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Phillies righty was encouraged by the seven strong innings he turned in against the NL Central Division-leading Cincinnati Reds.
Halladay allowed just one run on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings, and home runs from Chase Utley and Eric Kratz sparked the Phillies to a 6-2 win at Great American Ball Park, spoiling the return of Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
"There have been times in the sixth or seventh innings recently where I've felt my stuff kind of taper off," Halladay said. "Not today. I felt strong. Going deeper into games isn't going to be a problem."
Despite the loss in the finale of a three-game series, Cincinnati's magic number to clinch the NL Central dropped to 17, since the second-place St. Louis Cardinals also lost to R.A. Dickey and the New York Mets.
The Phillies have beaten the Reds in 15 of the past 19 meetings. Cincinnati hasn't won a season series against the Phillies since 2003.
"We're playing better than we have been, especially when we play clean games, catch the ball and pitch (well)" Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said.
Votto went 2-for-3 with a walk in his first plate appearances since July 16. He was placed on the disabled list July 17 with a torn meniscus in his left knee. The Reds went 32-16 in his absence.
"I was happy to be back in there," Votto said. "It went better than expected. Unfortunately it came with a loss."
Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce hit his 32nd home run of the season off Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth. It was the fourth straight game in which he has homered.
Reds starter Mike Leake (7-9) saw his career ERA vs. the Phillies balloon to 9.33.
The Phillies began the second inning with three straight singles off Leake, including Domonic Brown's RBI hit which drove in the game's first run.
Kratz followed with his ninth homer, a three-run shot on a 2-2 pitch from Leake to put Philadelphia up, 4-0.
After Juan Pierre began the third inning with a walk, Utley launched Leake's first pitch 414 feet to center to make the score 6-0. It was Utley's 10th home run this season.
Leake, who had given up three earned runs or fewer in six of his previous 10 starts, lasted just 2 1/3 innings and was charged with six earned runs.
Halladay, meanwhile, continued his dominance of Cincinnati. The right-hander entered Wednesday's game with a 3-1 record and 3.08 ERA against the Reds in seven career starts, the most memorable coming in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series, when he pitched the second postseason no-hitter in MLB history.
Halladay (9-7) retired seven in a row before Chris Heisey's leadoff single in the fourth. Heisey later scored on Bruce's RBI double for the Reds' first run.
"Roy did fine today," Manuel said. "He'll get more velocity. When he gets that, he'll be real tough."
The Reds had runners on second and third against Halladay in the sixth including Votto, who had singled, but Halladay retired Todd Frazier on a ground out to end the inning.
"I thought Joey Votto would be a little rusty coming back," Halladay said. "He didn't miss a beat. If I could've gotten him out a couple more times I might have lasted longer today."
Four Reds pitchers combined for six scoreless innings in relief of Leake, including right-hander Pedro Villarreal, who made his Major League debut with a perfect ninth.
Papelbon, who hadn't pitched since giving up Chipper Jones' three-run, walk-off homer Sunday in Atlanta, allowed Bruce's solo home run and a single to Frazier in the ninth on Wednesday. Papelbon allowed two hits and had two strikeouts to close out the win.
NOTES: John Mayberry Jr. has adapted well to being an everyday player for Philadelphia. Entering Wednesday, the Phillies centerfielder had batted .361 with four homers, two doubles, and 12 RBI in his past 16 games. ... According to Elias Sports Bureau, Jimmy Rollins became the 30th switch-hitter in MLB history with 2,000 career hits. Rollins collected his 2,000th hit with a fifth-inning double on Tuesday night. ... Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart missed his second straight game with back stiffness. ... Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, who recorded his 35th save Tuesday, reduced his ERA vs. National League teams to 0.30. NL opponents are hitting just .113 against him.
