Halladay, Phillies Beat Orioles in Florida

Halladay threw six innings and the Phillies beat Baltimore 4-1

Roy Halladay was eager to prove that last week's poor outing was a fluke.

After allowing five runs and seven hits in 2 2-3 innings against Minnesota last week, Halladay gave up a run and three hits in six innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 Tuesday. 

He struck out five, hit a batter and walked none.

Adam Jones hit an RBI double to score Nolan Reimold, who was hit by a pitch leading off the game. After that, Halladay allowed just two singles. 

Halladay made some mechanical adjustments.

``It doesn't make you happy. I can tell you that,'' Halladay said.

``There's a fine line between knowing what you need to accomplish and trying to prove a point or be too competitive or be caught up in it. That's something you try and learn to be aware of. It bothers you, but ultimately, you've got to keep in mind what's going on and ultimately what you're trying to accomplish.''

Without star infielders Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, who are injured, the Phillies will have to become more dependent on their pitching.

``We have enough good players. We don't need a superstar every day. We need consistency and do the job that we're supposed to do,'' Halladay said.

In four spring starts, Halladay has allowed 10 runs and 16 hits in 13 2-3 innings, but manager Charlie Manuel isn't worried.

``Doc's good. Sometimes, Doc's going to give up a home run. It wouldn't be a game if he didn't,'' Manuel said.

``He's still human.''

The Phillies may have suffered another injury when utility infielder Michael Martinez was hit by a pitch in his right foot by Jim Johnson. He'll get X-rays. Martinez stayed in the game and scored the go-ahead run by Freddy Galvis.

``Worse things happen I guess. If we need somebody, we'll get somebody else,'' Manuel said.

Philadelphia scored off Brian Matusz in the first on an RBI single by Ty Wigginton. Matusz allowed a run and seven hits in five innings.

In his previous two starts, Matusz pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing five hits. He wasn't nearly as sharp in this outing.

``It's going to happen over the course of a season, multiple times. It's about trying to be able to find a way to win, find a way to go as deep as I could go and keep grinding. That's what I was able to do today,'' Matusz said.

NOTES: Orioles LHP Zach Britton, who hasn't pitched this spring due to discomfort in his left shoulder, will see Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. on Wednesday. Britton does not expect to start the season with the team. ... Baltimore LHP Tsuyoshi Wada will throw three innings in a minor league game on Thursday. ... The Orioles have four ties in 18 games in spring training _ one off the most in the majors since 1996 according to STATS LLC. ... The Phillies optioned RHPs Phillippe Aumont and Michael Schwimmer to minor league camp and reassigned LHPs Jeremy Horst and David Purcey.

 
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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