gusman
05-30-2010, 02:09 AM
from mlb.com
MIAMI -- Roy Halladay's illustrious career has captured its grandest feat: A perfect game.
The Phillies' ace retired each of the 27 Marlins he faced in order on Saturday night to notch the 20th perfect game in Major League history and the second this season in the Phillies' 1-0 victory.
Halladay has compiled 155 wins and an American League Cy Young Award through a phenomenal 13-year career, but he's never been better than he was on this night.
The 33-year-old Halladay joins Jim Bunning as the only Phillies pitchers to throw a perfect game.
Halladay, making his 11th start in a Phillies uniform, struck out 11 batters and didn't issue a walk despite getting into seven three-ball counts.
The Phillies also made a couple of nice plays behind him. In the sixth, Wilson Valdez fielded a chopper off the bat of the speedy Cameron Maybin and completed a bang-bang play at first base. And in the eighth, Juan Castro made a nice pick on a short-hop from Jorge Cantu.
Halladay, who had never thrown a no-hitter, went into the bottom of the ninth with 103 pitches under his belt and a standing ovation from the 25,086 in attendance at Sun Life Stadium -- many of which were Phillies fans.
He then proceeded to get pinch-hitter Mike Lamb to flyout to deep center field and pinch-hitter Wes Helms to strikeout looking. Ronny Paulino grounded out to third for the final out.
On the other side, Marlins ace Josh Johnson was also dominant, giving up just one unearned run through seven innings. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third on a dropped line drive by Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin, which allowed Valdez to score from first base.
As it turns out, that was all they needed.
MIAMI -- Roy Halladay's illustrious career has captured its grandest feat: A perfect game.
The Phillies' ace retired each of the 27 Marlins he faced in order on Saturday night to notch the 20th perfect game in Major League history and the second this season in the Phillies' 1-0 victory.
Halladay has compiled 155 wins and an American League Cy Young Award through a phenomenal 13-year career, but he's never been better than he was on this night.
The 33-year-old Halladay joins Jim Bunning as the only Phillies pitchers to throw a perfect game.
Halladay, making his 11th start in a Phillies uniform, struck out 11 batters and didn't issue a walk despite getting into seven three-ball counts.
The Phillies also made a couple of nice plays behind him. In the sixth, Wilson Valdez fielded a chopper off the bat of the speedy Cameron Maybin and completed a bang-bang play at first base. And in the eighth, Juan Castro made a nice pick on a short-hop from Jorge Cantu.
Halladay, who had never thrown a no-hitter, went into the bottom of the ninth with 103 pitches under his belt and a standing ovation from the 25,086 in attendance at Sun Life Stadium -- many of which were Phillies fans.
He then proceeded to get pinch-hitter Mike Lamb to flyout to deep center field and pinch-hitter Wes Helms to strikeout looking. Ronny Paulino grounded out to third for the final out.
On the other side, Marlins ace Josh Johnson was also dominant, giving up just one unearned run through seven innings. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third on a dropped line drive by Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin, which allowed Valdez to score from first base.
As it turns out, that was all they needed.