2nd no hitter in post season goes to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Roy Halladay (Pt. 2 Final)
The Cincinnati Reds were up to their mark in the National League but when the side went into the post season, everything changed. The playoffs bring a feel of fulfilment in major league baseball as all top teams compete for the ultimate prize in the game
- the World Series. For the Central title holders, the odds got tougher on Wednesday, as the Philadelphia Phillies came on with Roy Halladay to pounce the club for a win. Playing at home would have been easy but visiting the Citizens Bank Park provided a very
difficult task of usurping victory over the East champions.
The Reds were not lucky and they lost to the Phillies in a no-hitter contest after 39 years. However, the night was memorable for Philadelphia’s pitcher, Halladay. The ace man was inspirational and he made the unthinkable happen as he provided the big win
in style. The last innings in the game showcased a classic build up to the finale. Red’s Ramon Hernandez popped out to Chase Utley, on second base, for the first out. Then, third baseman Wilson Valdez caught a foul ball hit in the air by Miguel Cairo. With
two outs, Brandon Phillips was the last man to go as he tapped Roy’s pitch in fRoyt of the plate and started running towards the first base. Catcher Carlos Ruiz pressed on the ball and collected it on his knee when it rolled near Phillip’s feet. He then made
a clean, hard throw to the first to get the final out. The celebration that followed was energetic to say the least. The crowd stood up on their feet and delivered a standing ovation to the ball thrower who had made history in the playoffs.
Ruiz ran up to the pitcher and both players hugged each other in a moment of insurmountable joy. The pitcher shared a few words on the last moments of the game with, “I felt like we got in a groove early. Carlos has been great all year; he helps me get into
a rhythm early, throwing strikes." The dugout came out to embrace the two players in the middle of the park as the game concluded with the hosts winning the bout 4 – 0.
The Phillies were the only ones to cover the runs in the game and the first run came off Shane Victorino in the bottom 1st inning. The hitter started the innings with a double to the left. With Chase Utley coming on to the batting plate, he stole
third and set himself for the important 1st run. Being in the right position gave the batter a good chance at scoring in the next pitches by Edinson Volquez. Utley came through eventually as he hit a sacrifice fly to the right to get Victorino through
for the first run.
The Phillies were leading the race and the bottom 2nd innings meant more for the players as Carlos Ruiz, Wilson Valdez and Roy Halladay scored in the session to bring the total tally to 4 runs in the game. Ruiz was walked first by Volquez and
that got the bid for the run up on the silver lining. Valdez came in to hit an infield single to the shortstop to get Ruiz on second. All it took next was Roy Halladay’s smashing single to the left to get Ruiz through for the run.
Edinson was in dire straits and he aggravated his situation when he walked Jimmy Rollins to the first. With Valdez and Halladay on third and second, the bases were filled up and the Reds were in a sticky situation. Unfortunately that would put Cincinnati
in a worse position as Victorino returned to the strike zone to smash a powerful single to the centre, getting Halladay and Valdez through for 4 runs.
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