Halladay and Friends Blank Yankees
Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay appeared to be in mid-season form and as though he could have kept going after he baffled New York hitters through 6 innings, allowing just 4 hits and walking none, while striking out 2 batters.
Halladay has yet to allow an earned run in 3 Grapefruit League starts this year. In 11 innings this spring, Halladay has struck out 7 and walked 3, while allowing 7 hits. His 6 innings on Thursday marked the longest start by a Phillies hurler to date this spring.
Yankees ace and former American League Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia held the defending NL East division champions scoreless through 5 innings.
The Phillies took control in the bottom of the 6th inning as Josh Barfield led off with a triple and was brought home on a Shane Victorino sacrifice fly. Placido Polanco then plated Jimmy Rollins with a double. And before Yankees hurler Robert Fish could retire the side, John Mayberry Jr. slammed his third homer of the spring season to put the Phillies up, 4-0.
The Phillies added three more runs in the bottom of the 8th when Ben Francisco mashed a double off of Yankees reliever Mark Prior that scored Wilson Valdez from first base and a misplayed ball off the bat of Eric Kratz by New York center fielder Justin Maxwell scored 2 additional runs.
Three Phillies’ relievers combined to retire all nine Yankees batters they faced. Michael Stutes, JC Ramirez and Michael Schwimer each tossed a 1-2-3 inning in relief of Halladay, whose record went to 2-0 this spring, with the victory. Each of these three young hurlers were recently ranked among the Phillies’ top prospects by PhilliesNation.
The Phillies (8-6) travel tomorrow to face the Orioles at 1:05 PM. The game will be broadcast on Phillies.com.
