JRoll sends Phils to 3rd straight walk-off win in extras

Most headlines will read something about the Phillies winning yet another walk-off in extra innings.  In fact it was their 3rd consecutive walk-off win in extras.  That is a club record for Philadelphia.  The Phillies can now send Cole Hamels to the hill tomorrow and try to sweep the Reds and head into the All-Star break on a four game winning streak.

But before this game went into extras, the story line was the battle between Roy Halladay and Reds rookie pitcher Travis Wood.  Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning in just his third big league start.  Fittingly enough, Halladay  took one into the ninth in just his second start of his big league career.

Luckily for the Phillies, Halladay was just about as perfect on this night as well.  Doc went the full nine innings giving up only five hits while striking out nine.  Halladay’s lowered his ERA to 2.19 which is 4th in the majors.

Not much to say, again, about the offense.  The Phillies didn’t record a hit until the 9th inning when Carlos Ruiz hit the first of his two doubles to lead off the inning.  Ruiz could not advance as Wilson Valdez, Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins all popped out to send the game into extras.

The next time Ruiz doubled, in the 11th,  Rollins made sure it was not wasted.  His single was only the 4th hit of the game for the Phils but scored Ruiz for the only run of the entire game.  It was the only run the Phillies needed.  It was Rollin’s second walk-off hit this season.   The only two if his career.

Worth noting: With Howard’s 2 RBIs last night, he is now tied with the Mets David Wright for tops in the NL with 65.  Jayson Werth had the other hit for the Phillies who are still five and a half games behind the Braves in the division.  With a win tomorrow paired with a Mets loss, the Phillies will move into second.