Stop me if you've heard this before: Roy Halladay set his opponent down 1-2-3 in the top of the second. He needed just 12 pitches to strike out Scott Rolen, and then get Jonny Gomes and Jay Bruce to ground out. Halladay's perfect through two, with 22 pitches and 17 strikes.
Phillies Vs. Reds, NLDS Game 1: Roy Halladay Helps Own Cause; Edinson Volquez Yanked
That wouldn't be the end of the world for Cincinnati, were Edinson Volquez in turn able to keep the Phillies quiet. Unfortunately, Volquez ran into more trouble in the second. He issued a two-out, four-pitch walk to Carlos Ruiz. He then got Wilson Valdez to hit a weak grounder up the middle, but it was placed perfectly, and Orlando Cabrera was unable to make a flip to second base.
And then Roy Halladay stepped in.
Halladay jumped on a first-pitch heater and ripped a line drive to right, the ball coming down just in front of Jonny Gomes. The single scored Ruiz from second, putting the Phillies on top 2-0 and only breathing more life into an already frenzied ballpark atmosphere.
Volquez proceeded to walk Jimmy Rollins on eight pitches to load the bases, and he subsequently allowed a line drive single to center off the bat of Shane Victorino to score two more. At that point, Dusty Baker decided he'd had enough, and he went out to make a pitching change. In the bottom of the second inning, Travis Wood is on in relief of Edinson Volquez, and the Reds are trailing Roy Halladay and the Phillies by four.
Volquez got five outs while allowing six baserunners and throwing 56 pitches. If nothing else, this should help keep him fresh for his next start, should he make one.
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