As pitching matchups go, this is about as one sided as staff ace against staff ace gets. Roy Halladay, after years of dominating the most brutal division in baseball, did exactly what he came to the Phillies to do: DOMINATE. The good doctor pitched 7 innings, allowing only 1 run and striking out 9 to get his first win of the season and in a Phillies uniform. He even chipped in with the bat, much the same way Cliff Lee did in his Phils debut, getting an RBI single. Poor John Lannan never even saw the Phils coming giving up 5 earned in less than 4 innings.
The Nationals took a brief 1-0 lead, but that was soon erased in a hurry by a Phillies offense that gave a glimpse as to how powerful it can be. Placido Polanco was added to get a high average, low strikeout bat at the top of the lineup and he delivered and more today. Polanco finished the day 3 for 5 with a grand slam and 6 RBI's. Not to be outdone, Ryan Howard added a 2 run shot in his 2 hit day. However, the most exciting part of the day could be Jimmy Rollins getting on base 4 times, twice via walk and twice via hit, as well as stealing his first bag of the year.
Not all days will be as easy as this one, but it was a heck of a start for the Phils. The Phils will be off tomorrow but will resume play in DC at 7:05 on Wednesday as Cole Hamels begins what everyone hopes will be a bounce back campaign. Jason Marquis will go for Washington.
*A roster note I failed to previously mention: due to Blanton, Romero, and Lidge being put on the DL, Andrew Carpenter broke camp with the Phils and will be with the big club until one of those 3 make it back.
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