The season seemingly can’t start soon enough for Phillies ace Roy Halladay.
Doc gave up his first run but that was it as he led the Phils to a 4-1 win over the Red Sox in Clearwater Monday afternoon.
Halladay, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed five hits and three walks with striking six Sox while flirting with a rare spring training complete game.
"I felt good, both arm and body. I felt strong," said Halladay, who led the majors in innings pitched last season. "I didn't feel like I got tired. I felt like I had a lot more left. Physically, I feel like where I need to be."
The 33-year-old Halladay wound up throwing 7 2/3 innings before Ryan Madson came on for the save.
"He's really good," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "You hate to sit on the other side and be impressed, but I'd pay to watch him pitch."
Halladay, who is 3-0 with a 0.48 ERA in four Grapefruit League games, will make one more start in Florida before the Phillies break camp next week. He is on tap to start his second straight opening day for the pitching-rich Phillies on April 1 at home against the Astros.
"He's ready," Phightins manager Charlie Manuel said. "He threw 98 pitches today. He's about right where we want him to be."
Halladay also did it at the plate breaking up Boston No. 1 Jon Lester's no hitter with a fifth inning single.
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Lester gave up five hits, four walks and four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings.
At the plate, the Phillies got a big contribution from bench-player-hopeful Josh Barfield who knocked in two with a sixth inning single.
All wasn’t peachy for the Phightins though. Centerfielder Shane Victorino left the game after colliding with left fielder Raul Ibanez.
Victorino appeared to be bleeding just above his right eye but he managed to jog off the field to the applause of Bright House Field fans.
Cliff Lee takes the hill for the Phils when they face Toronto Tuesday.
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