CSN: Halladay strong again as Phillies snap skid

BOX SCORE

Roy Halladay had another strong outing and the Phillies' bats finally came alive in an 8-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

The game was called after 6? innings because of rain.

The Phils out-hit the Cards, 10-2, in snapping a four-game losing streak.

The Phillies are now 7-10. St. Louis is 9-7.

The attendance at Citizens Bank Park was 34,092.

Starting pitching report
Halladay followed up eight innings of one-run ball against lowly Miami with seven innings of two-run ball against a much more formidable Cardinals lineup. Halladay allowed just two hits, both solo homers. He walked two and struck out six. Halladay?s fastball reached 92 mph, a good sign, but his ball-to-strike ratio was not good. He threw 50 balls and 59 strikes for 109 pitches. He threw a first-pitch strike to just 11 of 25 hitters.

The Phillies had struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .131 (11 for 84) with four extra-base hits, coming into the game. But they had no trouble with St. Louis lefty Jaime Garcia, who allowed nine hits and eight runs in three innings. Four of the runs that Garcia allowed were unearned after a first-inning error. The Phils had four extra-base hits against Garcia.

At the plate
The Phils avoided the ignominy of becoming the first team since 1920 to go without a walk for five straight games when Chase Utley drew a base on balls in the first inning. The Phils had two walks for the game.

Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry Jr., Ben Revere and Humberto Quintero all had two hits apiece. Quintero drove in two runs. Michael Young ran his hitting streak to 10 straight games.

The Phils were 6 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

In the field
Lifelong infielder Freddy Galvis started his second game in left field and made two big catches, one on a long run and a slide, in the fourth inning. Centerfielder Revere made a diving catch in the sixth.

Former Phillie Ty Wigginton made a two-out error at third base for the Cardinals. It opened the door for four unearned runs in the first inning. Wigginton made eight errors in 22 games at third base for the Phils last season.

Health check
Ryan Howard had some soreness in his groin and did not start against the lefty Garcia, which was convenient because Howard is 0 for 15 with eight strikeouts against lefties this season. Howard is day-to-day.

Domonic Brown missed his second straight start with a sore back. Manager Charlie Manuel said Brown could return on Saturday night.

Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch on the left wrist while playing in an extended spring training game in Florida on Friday. An X-ray was negative. Ruiz's suspension will end a week from Sunday when the Phillies are in New York.

Up next
Cliff Lee (2-0, 1.52) and Lance Lynn (2-0, 5.40) are the pitchers Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

The Phils have not named a starter to replace John Lannan on Monday. That is Jonathan Pettibone?s day to pitch at Triple A. Pettibone has struggled in his first two starts, but he is on the 40-man roster, which could make him a candidate for the spot start. B.J. Rosenberg and Tyler Cloyd are also on the 40-man roster and could be possibilities. Adam Morgan is considered the Phils? most advanced minor-league pitching prospect, but he would have to work on short rest Monday. It?s possible Morgan could be in the picture when he?s on regular rest. This is all speculation as Phillies officials have not tipped their hand on how they will fill Monday?s start.

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/phillies/instant-replay-phillies-8-cardinals-2-6%C2%BD-innings

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