Seventh-inning stretch time. Brilliant sunshine took the edge off the chilly temperatures and brisk winds at the ballpark yesterday. A stunning 45,468 attended the first businessperson's special of the year. Roy Halladay went for the Phillies against Jonathan Niese of the Mets. Niese looked good early on but was gone after four, having given up six runs. Halladay, meanwhile, just settled in to being his usual commanding self. He went a strong seven, allowing six hits, striking out seven, and walking none. With one out, the Mets loaded the bases in the third but a David Wright strike-out and Ike Davis ground-out defused the Mets. For the rest of the game, they were pretty much tin men.
The Phillies continued to tack on, including a two-run homer by Raul Ibanez, his first of the year. Wilson Valdez went four for four, a career-high for the former Met. Danys Baez and David Herndon pitched, respectively, the eighth and ninth, preserving the shut-out in an 11-0 win.
Halladay, however, dominated the afternoon. Is it wonderful to watch this guy pitch? Let me count the ways. As a Phillie, he is also a sterling 14-1 against the NL East.
