Doc's Hitting, Pitching Helps Phils Take the Win

The Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay made a triumphant return to the scene of his perfect game, allowing one run in seven innings Tuesday night to beat the Florida Marlins 6-1.

Halladay (13-8) threw the second perfect game in Phillies history when he won May 29 on his last visit to Miami. He said he wasn't tempted to reminisce.

"The quicker you can turn the page on stuff like that, the better," he said. "To have it be a regular game and just go out and pitch is obviously beneficial for me, so I really didn't think
about it."

This time the Marlins managed five hits against the right-hander, who struck out nine and lowered his ERA to 2.17. He hit a two-run single in the fourth.

"Forget his pitching. Let's talk about his hitting," manager Charlie Manuel said with a laugh.

The injury-plagued Phils need all the offensive help they can get. They played without slugger Ryan Howard, who before the game went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left ankle.
Jayson Werth replaced Howard in the cleanup spot and went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts.

With Chase Utley and Shane Victorino also on the DL, Halladay provided a pick-me-up.

"When you have big guys out of your lineup, it's more important that everybody does their job," Halladay said.

The Phils are surging despite the injuries, winning 10 of their past 12 games. They closed within two games of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, who lost to the New York Mets 3-2.

"If we keep playing like we've been playing," Phils right fielder Ben Francisco said, "we should be fine."

Francisco and Carlos Ruiz homered on consecutive pitches in the second inning. Francisco finished with three of the Phils' 13 hits, and Ruiz had four.

Halladay improved 3-1 in four starts against Florida this year with an ERA of 1.13. His streak of consecutive batters retired in Miami this season reached 30 before Dan Uggla hit his 24th homer
leading off the second inning.

Uggla said Halladay looked a lot like the perfect-game pitcher.

"He still threw really good," Uggla said. "It just so happens we got a couple of hits. The other time we didn't."

Florida's Sean West (0-1), making his first start of the season, went five innings and allowed five runs, four earned. Uggla made two misplays at second base that led to two runs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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