With temperatures in the low 90s along with high humidity, the righty struggled to his shortest start in two years and failed to pitch six innings in a road start for the first time in 63 games.
Reaching The Wrong Conclusion About Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies takes a short break from the heat against the Chicago Cubs on July 18, 2011 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Halladay left the game in the fifth inning. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) Getty ImagesHalladay’s removal snapped a streak of 63 consecutive road starts lasting at least six innings. It was the first time he’d failed to go at least five innings since June 12, 2009, when he got hurt. It was the second time he’d failed to go at least five innings since June 5, 2007. Halladay has an established track record of very consistently being one thing, and Monday night, he was another thing.
Why was Halladay pulled? Simple: the heat. The official game-time temperature in Chicago was 91 degrees, and the heat index reportedly approached 105. It was hot, humid and miserable, and Halladay labored from the beginning. He didn’t have his best stuff, and sweat soaked through his clothes to the point at which he ditched his three-quarters undershirt. With Halladay dizzy and lightheaded, Charlie Manuel finally decided to yank his starter in the fifth before things got any worse.
Read Article >Phillies Pitcher Roy Halladay Leaves Game Early, Snaps Streak
After sweating to the point of requesting a jersey exchange, Halladay finally called it a night midway through the fifth with a runner on first base and no outs. Philadelphia would go on to lose 6-1, as Halladay picked up his fourth loss of the year. It is the first Philadelphia loss in the ace’s last eleven starts.
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