Reds Offense On Haladay 9-0 Phillies Win

The good news for the Cincinnati Reds avoided another no-hitter by Philadelphia Phillies starter Roy Halladay.


Brandon Phillips dumped a single into right center leading off the first inning.


Bronson Arroyo held off the Phillies until Ryan Howard clubbed his 28th home run of the season into the second row of the right field bleachers.  It was the 35th home run allowed by Arroyo this season.  Not only does that total lead the Major Leagues it ties the Reds franchise record for home runs allowed by a righthanded pitcher.  Aaron Harang allowed 35 in 2008 and Sammy Ellis served up the same number at Crosley Field in 1966.  The over all record is the 40 allowed by lefthander, Eric Milton in 2005.


Hunter Pence helped Arroyo set a new record with his 17th leading off the sixth.  The wheels fell off for Arroyo after that.  Raul Ibanez singled, the second of his three hits. Carlos Ruiz singled.  Wilson Valdez reached on Miguel Cairo's error.  Halladay matched the hits he allowed to that point with a ringing double down the right field line, driving in two.  Logan Ondrusek took over and threw a wild pitch to let the fourth run of the inning to cross the plate.


"Hunter (Pence) is kind of a strange hitter," Arroyo said.  "He hits some balls that
you think are going to bounce.  He just hit it out of the park.  You
got to just tip your hat for that.  That's the way it goes with guys
like that sometimes, you know, they're so unorthodox.  He's hittingball like Vladimir Guerrero hit.  Balls that shouldn't be hit."

Arroyo tried to limit the damage but Halladay spoiled his plan.

"The pitch to Halladay.  I was trying to throw a sinker to the outer
half.  The same that I threw to Valdez that didn't get any outs," Arroyo said. "A
strikeout really didn't help me because Victorino has been tough on
me.  I wanted to end the inning right there."












Haladay walked Votto one out after Phillips hit in the first.  Jay Bruce provided the Reds best scoring chance by hitting a long fly down the right field line that hook foul just at the right field foul pole.  Halladay struck Bruce out swinging on a 3-2 pitch.  Bruce was the first of 17 straight retired by Halladay.  He struck out six Reds, all looking during the streak.


"Halladay wasn't sharp early," Dusty Baker said.  "He threw a lot of pitches.  It's always
a game changer when you get on a guy like that early.  Bronson was
sailing along too.  That was a pop up that Howard hit that went out of
the ballpark."


Raul Ibanez hit a two-run home run off Ondrusek in the seventh his third hit.


Joey Votto ended Halladay's streak with a double down the left field line to begin the bottom of the frame.


Hallady hit Bruce with a pitch and with one out walked Drew Stubbs.  The Phillies ace threw the rosin bag to the rubber at about 93 mph, so upset was he with the walk.  After a trip to the mound by Rich Dubee, the pitching coach, Halladay struck out pinch hitter Todd Frazier LOOKING.  It ended the night for Halladay.  He allowed just five base runners on two hits, two walks and a hit batter.  They came in two innings the first and seventh.  He struck out nine Reds, seven of them looking.


"Halladay was getting some help at the bottom of the zone," Baker said.  "That's
where he lives.   He's getting those pitches at the bottom of the
zone, he's going to be exceptionally tough."


Arroyo finished with 5 1/3 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks.


Howard hit his 29th home run off Sam LeCure in the ninth.  It was his third multi-homer game this season and the 29th of his career.