Doc’s Comeback Results in Series Win Over D’Backs

Roy Halladay returned to the mound for the Phillies on Sunday afternoon, under 12 hours after the conclusion of Saturday’s 18 inning marathon. His return, and results for that matter, were a pleasant surprise: Halladay used precision to navigate six innings against Arizona, pitching the Phillies to a 9-5 win.

Halladay Sharp

Halladay maxed out at 89 MPH today, but gave up just four hits and two walks through six innings, limiting the Diamondback damage to just two runs, both earned.

Halladay’s outing began with reason for fans to hold their breath: the lead-off hitter, Tony Campana, started the game with a lead-off triple. The next batter, Adam Eaton, followed with an RBI single. But Halladay settled in, including a stretch of seven straight retired.

Diekman Sharper

Diekman entered the game on a tear: from July 31 until today, Diekman had help opponents to a .158 BAA with a 2.25 ERA. Diekman finished the game for the Phils in the ninth, pitching a perfect frame, racking up two strikeouts, lowering his ERA for 2013 to 3.18.

Bats Get Hot to Support Halladay

With a line-up that featured six players ending the day with batting averages between .178 and .248, the Phillies attacked Diamondbacks pitching early and often. The Phils responded to a 1-0 first inning deficit in the bottom half with a Darin Ruf RBI single and two-run double from Cody Asche. Kevin Frandsen followed Asche with an RBI ground out.

With the game now 4-2, John Mayberry

Jr. hit a two-run homer, scoring Frandsen, in the fourth. Chase Utley made the game 7-2 with an RBI single with the bases loaded as a pinch hitter off of starter Patrick Corbin  in the sixth, followed by a two-run double by Roger Bernadina off of  Heath Bell. The onslaught of offense pinned nine runs, eight earned on second-year starter Patrick Corbin’s ERA 0.35 points.

Transactional Odds and Ends

To make room for Halladay, the Phillies optioned starter Tyler Cloyd to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phils also optioned reliever Luis Garcia (5.59 ERA) and replaced him with J.C. Ramirez. Ramirez had a poor eighth inning, today, giving up one walk and four hits, including a three-run A.J. Pollock homer.

The Phillies wrapped up their nine game homestand against the NL West with a 6-3 mark, including four walk-off wins. They travel to Citi Field tomorrow to start a four game set against the Mets.