Halladay does just enough to Win.
October 22nd 2010 11:07
Recap from Todd Zolecki
Phillies ace Roy Halladay kept quiet, kept his legs moving and adjusted.
Every time he has pitched this month, it has been the biggest game of his life, which meant he had never pitched in a more important game than Thursday against the Giants in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at AT&T Park. The Phillies would be eliminated in the best-of-seven series if they lost to San Francisco.
Halladay wanted the ball more than ever.
He proved it. In the second inning of the 4-2 victory over the Giants, which sent the series back to Philadelphia for Game 6 Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, Halladay felt a sharp pain in his right leg. He had pulled his groin on a pitch to Giants right fielder Cody Ross. He finished the inning and immediately spoke to pitching coach Rich Dubee and team athletic trainers in the dugout.
They talked, but they never talked about Halladay leaving the game.
"I felt like it was something I could get by with," Halladay said.
"He wasn't going to let us take him out," Phils manager Charlie Manuel said.
Halladay shortened his stride and rode a stationary bike in between innings to keep his groin loose. Catcher Carlos Ruiz said they threw fewer sinkers the rest of the way because they lacked their normal movement and velocity, which meant Halladay threw more cutters, changeups and curveballs.
"I was worried a little bit," Ruiz said. "But when I saw him come back to the mound [in the third inning], I had a great feeling."
But would those feelings last if the Phillies could not score runs against Giants ace Tim Lincecum? Halladay allowed a run in the first inning partially because he walked just the seventh leadoff hitter in an inning this season and partially because second baseman Chase Utley botched an inning-ending double play.
The Giants had a 1-0 lead with Lincecum in control through two innings. But the Phils caught some breaks in the third. Raul Ibanez hit a leadoff single and Lincecum hit Ruiz with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.
"I felt like it was something I could get by with," Halladay said.
"He wasn't going to let us take him out," Phils manager Charlie Manuel said.
Halladay shortened his stride and rode a stationary bike in between innings to keep his groin loose. Catcher Carlos Ruiz said they threw fewer sinkers the rest of the way because they lacked their normal movement and velocity, which meant Halladay threw more cutters, changeups and curveballs.
"I was worried a little bit," Ruiz said. "But when I saw him come back to the mound [in the third inning], I had a great feeling."
But would those feelings last if the Phillies could not score runs against Giants ace Tim Lincecum? Halladay allowed a run in the first inning partially because he walked just the seventh leadoff hitter in an inning this season and partially because second baseman Chase Utley botched an inning-ending double play.
The Giants had a 1-0 lead with Lincecum in control through two innings. But the Phils caught some breaks in the third. Raul Ibanez hit a leadoff single and Lincecum hit Ruiz with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.
"I felt like it was something I could get by with," Halladay said.
"He wasn't going to let us take him out," Phils manager Charlie Manuel said.
Halladay shortened his stride and rode a stationary bike in between innings to keep his groin loose. Catcher Carlos Ruiz said they threw fewer sinkers the rest of the way because they lacked their normal movement and velocity, which meant Halladay threw more cutters, changeups and curveballs.
"I was worried a little bit," Ruiz said. "But when I saw him come back to the mound [in the third inning], I had a great feeling."
But would those feelings last if the Phillies could not score runs against Giants ace Tim Lincecum? Halladay allowed a run in the first inning partially because he walked just the seventh leadoff hitter in an inning this season and partially because second baseman Chase Utley botched an inning-ending double play.
The Giants had a 1-0 lead with Lincecum in control through two innings. But the Phils caught some breaks in the third. Raul Ibanez hit a leadoff single and Lincecum hit Ruiz with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Halladay bunted a ball that rolled over home plate. Halladay never ran to first as San Francisco catcher Buster Posey threw to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, except Sandoval missed the base with his leg. Sandoval threw to first to get Halladay, but the Phillies had runners on second and third with one out.
The Phils had to cash in here.
They did. Shane Victorino ripped a ground ball to the right side of the infield, which deflected off Aubrey Huff's glove into center field. Ibanez and Ruiz both scored on the play to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Polanco followed with a single to left-center field to score Victorino to make it 3-1.
"I always look for a fastball and I try to adjust to anything off," Polanco said. "And he threw me a fastball and I was able to hit it good."
The Giants kept pressing and Halladay kept fighting through his injury. San Francisco scored a run in the fourth to make it 3-2, but Halladay shut the NL West champs down the rest of the way.
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