Halladay no-hits Reds in playoff opener

Added on Oct 06, 2010 by Ted Sillanpaa in

MLB

Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay made his postseason debut in stirring style on Wednesday, pitching a no-hitter to defeat the Reds, 4-0, to open the National League Division series in Philadelphia.

Halladay pitched his second no-hitter of 2010. He previously no-hit the Marlins in Florida during the regular season.

Halladay struck out 8 and walked just one in pitching just the second no-hitter in Major League baseball postseason history.

“I got into a groove early,” Halladay said immediately after the game, still on the field with Phillies fans still roaring. “The big thing was throwing strike one.”

The jitters that could’ve accompanied his playoff debut were never apparent after the Phils jumped to a 4-0 lead early.

“I forgot the emotions and just wanted to be aggressive,” Halladay said. “We got those runs and then one or two pitches won’t beat you. I was able to be aggressive.”

The only baserunner came with Halladay walked Jay Bruce on a 3-2 pitch in the fifth. The righty had struck out the first two hitters before getting two strikes on Bruce. Two borderline pitches were called balls before Bruce walked.

** Texas infielder Michael Young finally made his postseason debut after 1,508 games in the big leagues. Randy Winn, who finished the season with the Cardinals, has played in 1,717 games without playing in the postseason. Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff is playing in his first postseason in his 11th big league season.

** To no one’s surprise, the Cardinals exercised the $16 million club option for 2011 to keep three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols around.