Roy Halladay was brought into town to be the Phillies shutdown ace but without run support the Phightins’ top pitcher looks anything but a No. 1.
Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning off Halladay, rallying the Reds to yet another win in their final at-bat Wednesday, 4-3 over the Phils.
Despite a complete game and a season ERA of 2.42 Halladay (9-7) stumbled to the loss.
Doc fell to 2-4 since his perfect game on May 29.
Jonny Gomes opened the eighth with a single, and Bruce connected for Cincinnati's 25th comeback win -- most in the majors. The Reds have 14 wins in their last at-bat, tied for the major league lead.
Former Phillie Arthur Rhodes (3-2) pitched a perfect inning, recovering from his 10th-inning loss a few hours earlier. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 26 tries.
It was a lousy series for the Phillies, who lost Chase Utley and Placido Polanco to injuries and two of the three games. Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel also was ejected from a game for arguing balls and strikes.
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The defending NL champs fill-ins have kept them in games. Brian Schneider and Wilson Valdez hit three-run homers during a 9-6, 10-inning win on Tuesday night, when Philadelphia ended Rhodes' record-tying streak of 33 scoreless appearances.
They were in position for another improbable win after reserve catcher Dane Sardinha hit a three-run homer -- only the second of his career -- off Aaron Harang.
But Halladay wasn’t sharp enough to keep the Reds off the board. The righty gave up a season-high 13 hits and struck out 10 in eight innings, throwing 119 pitches.
Next up for the Phightins is a four-game series in Pittsburgh against the National-League worst Pirates.
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