Doc Beats Old Mates as Phils Win Going Away – at Home

Home? Away? Doesn’t matter where the Phillies play, right now they are red-hot in all phases of the game.

The Phillies began their away series with the Blue Jays with a 9-0 win behind seven shutout innings from former Jay Roy Halladay.

Doc tossed 105 pitches and allowed six hits scattered over those seven frames. Jose Contreras and David Herndon would work the eighth and ninth to finish it off. Halladay finally got the run support he desired and won for the first time since June 4.

Offensively, it really wasn’t very fair. Toronto pitching was overmatched from the get-go as Jimmy Rollins walked to lead off the game. J-Roll would walk four times total, the first time he’s ever done that in his career. The impressive numbers continued down the order as Ross Gload knocked in four runs with three coming on a questionable double called by the official scorer. His smash to deep right-center field hit off the heel of Vernon Wells glove, but no matter, it still broke the game wide open.

Every starter had at least one hit except Rollins, who managed to find his way on base anyway. Shane Victorino homered and Jayson Werth finished 2-for-3 with a triple and two walks. All-in-all a fine performance against a team that is much better than the Indians who just left town without a victory.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Jesse Litsch, making just his third start back from Tommy John surgery, lasted only four-plus innings and was tagged by the now-steaming hot Phillies offense. Litsch gave up six runs and walked four batters – he did not record a strikeout.

It certainly looks as though the Phillies offense as a while has broken out of their funk. They’ve also managed four wins in a row and six wins in their last eight games.  With a Mets win and a Braves win, they remain 2.5 out in the NL East.