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Phils’ Halladay proves too tough for the Pirates
Photo
Philadelphia Phillies’ baserunner Ty Wigginton scores ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Rod Barajas in the seventh inning of the Pirates’ season opener Thursday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Wigginton tagged up and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by teammate Carlos Ruiz to Pirates right fielder Jose Tabata. The Phillies won 1-0. The two teams square off Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Associated Press
pittsburgh
Alex Presley turned the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first at-bat of 2012 into a sharp single against Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay.
The liner sent a buzz through the largest crowd in PNC Park history. Then Halladay settled down and buzzed through the Pirates.
The two-time Cy Young winner allowed two hits over eight innings in a 1-0 victory on Thursday.
“Nobody solves Roy Halladay,” Presley said. “I don’t need to tell anyone how good he is. He pitched a great game. He shut us down after the first inning.”
Pittsburgh’s Erik Bedard nearly matched Halladay pitch for pitch, giving up just one run and six hits in seven innings in his National League debut. Bedard struck out four and walked one.
“I’ve done it before so it wasn’t a big deal but it was nice to get the chance to do it with a new team and it was nice to pitch well in front of the fans,” Bedard said. “Anytime you lose, though, you wind up disappointed. I wish I would have been able to hold them off the board but they got one across and that made the difference.”
It tends to when Halladay is pitching.
Missing injured stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phillies scored the lone run they needed on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Ruiz in the seventh. New closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his first National League save.
“It was a good game for us,” Halladay said. “It went the way we wanted and Papelbon came in and got his feet wet and got that out of the way. All in all I think it was a good way to do it.”
For Halladay and his teammates, it was a familiar score with a different winner. Their season ended last year when Halladay lost a 1-0 decision to Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals in the deciding Game 5 in the first round of the NL playoffs.
The Phillies start this season as the favorites to win their sixth straight NL East title.
Making his 10th opening day start, Halladay didn’t argue when manager Charlie Manuel opted to bring in Papelbon.
“I understand at this point,” Halladay said. “A couple weeks from now I’m going to fight him.”
Halladay gave up just two first-inning singles while striking out five without issuing a walk.
Halladay was pulled three outs before getting a chance at his 21st shutout.
“We just didn’t get many pitches to hit,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Pirates are hardly the Cardinals — who went on to win the World Series last year — and didn’t get a runner to third base over the last eight innings.
Bedard’s only bobble came in the seventh. Ty Wigginton, filling in while Howard continues to rehab his left Achilles, singled with one out and John Mayberry followed with a double to right.
Ruiz, who had three hits, sent a fading liner to right and Jose Tabata made the catch, but Wigginton slid under catcher Rod Barajas’ tag to give Philadelphia the lead.
It was just a run, but it was plenty for Halladay.
Andrew McCutchen, who signed a $51 million deal last month as the linchpin of the Pirates’ rebuilding project, grounded into a double play and Neil Walker flied out to end the first-inning threat.
Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett, on the 15-day DL, joined the Pirates for opening day festivities but is expected to start for Class A Bradenton today. He is eligible to return April 10.