Heat forces Roy Halladay to exit early from the game – MLB News
Roy Halladay has coped with all obstacles this season but succumbed to heat on Monday, July 18 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois in the game against Chicago Cubs.
Halladay, the Philadelphia Phillies starter, has been phenomenal this season. He has proved his ability with his consistent performances and his statistics speak for themselves.
Roy had pitched at least six innings in his previous 42 starts, making it the fifth-longest six-inning plus streak in the last 20 years. With the kind of form and fitness he is in, Halladay was looking set to cross Mark Buehrle’s 49-game streak this season
but he could not sustain the heat in Illinois and had to head back to the dugout at the bottom of fifth inning.
The temperature was recorded to be 91 degrees at game time but it seemed much hotter. The heat index supported this notion as it showed a reading of 105 degrees. Halladay pitched the first four innings with full gallantry, clocking the 90 mph mark regularly,
but lost strength as he bowed down with his jersey soaked completely.
Halladay signalled the Phillies’ pitching’ coach Rich Dubee for a change who instantly replaced him with Drew Carpenter. Dubee said that he had talked to the starting pitcher about change after the fourth inning but Halladay said that he was completely fine
and would continue pitching. It was not long before Halladay had to change his mind.
Dubee said, "When he stepped off a couple times I knew something was up because he usually works at such a great tempo."
Halladay was examined by Cubs’ physician. The right-handed pitcher was not available for comment himself but the team spokesperson commented that there is nothing serious and Halladay was perfectly fit to start his next game which is scheduled against the
San Diego Padres this coming Saturday.
Roy has been a sensation for the Phillies this season. He has pitched six complete games out of the total 20 games that he has started. In 147.1 innings pitched this season, Halladay has bagged 139 strike-outs with a phenomenal win-loss record of 11-4. It
is worth mentioning here that his early exit in the game against the Cubs led to his fourth loss and his first after nine consecutive wins. He has an ERA of 2.57 and is rated as one of the best modern day pitchers.
It was Halladay’s shortest start since June 12, 2009 when he had to leave early in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays because of a groin injury. The Phillies will not want to lose their key pitcher at this time of the season when stakes are high. The Phillies
will be hoping for weather to be on their side on Saturday, July 23 when Halladay is scheduled to start his next game.
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