Phillies can't back Halladay, continue three game skid
For the second time in this series, the Phillies were beaten by a former teammate. Tonight came in the form of JA Happ (4-2, 3.45). Happ was sent to Houston in a trade in which Philadelphia acquired left fielder and part time pitcher, or err you know, Roy Oswalt.
Happ did receive a nice ovation from the home crowd when he left the game after throwing 6 1/3 innings allowing five hits and two runs. Happ had not allowed a run until Jayson Werth hit his 17th home run of the season over the left field wall. Four relievers cleaned up the rest on way to a 3-2 victory for Houston.
The Phillies sent Roy Halladay (16-9, 2.22) to the mound who was looking to add to his recent hot streak. He came in winning his last six decisions and having not allowed a run in 15 innings. The scoreless streak ended at 18 when Hunter Pence hit a home run in the fourth inning for the first run of the game. Halladay finished with seven innings allowing three runs on six hits.
Doc is still in the running for the pitching triple crown (leader in wins, ERA, strikeouts) leading the NL in strikeouts and second in wins and ERA.
The Phils have only managed six runs this entire series, the exact amount they used to finish off Washington in the series finale Sunday. The bats need to come back tomorrow before Philadelphia heads out west for three game series against the Padres and Dodgers. They also stop in Colorado for a make-up game before coming home.
