Unbelievable: Halladay records his first playoff hit, RBI, run scored

Philadelphia, PA--The Phillies lead their National League Division Series 1-0 after winning the opening game, 4-0, over the Cincinnati Reds at a raucous Citizens Bank Park, thanks in part to a bat that is not a regular contributor to this dangerously powerful offense.

The Phillie's ace right-handed pitcher, Roy Halladay, who started his first playoff game last night after twelve postseason-less years in the league with Toronto, went 1 for 3 with a single (his first playoff hit) that drove in Carlos Ruiz (his first playoff RBI) to give the team a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Later in the inning, he would score his first playoff run when Shane Victorino singled to center field.

"Roy was struggling on the mound. He walked a guy with two outs in the fifth inning and everyone was a little concerned," said Ruiz, the Phils' catcher who has had a tremendous 2010 season. "Roy didn't have his best stuff, but he made up with it with his bat."

No one, including the workhorse pitcher and members of the media, wanted to discuss the Colorado native's pitching performance at the conclusion of the game. Television reporters pleaded with the seven-time All-Star for an on-field interview to discuss his second-inning single to left field.

In the clubhouse, a media mass converged on Halladay's locker to get details of how it felt to score his first playoff run.

"What went through your mind when you stepped on home plate?" asked one reporter. Halladay, who appears uncomfortable discussing personal achievements, said that he was happy the team got the win. The ultimate professional, Halladay talked briefly about the hit and admitted that he thought it was going to be caught as it quickly dropped to the turf.

Phils' manager Charlie Manuel was thrilled by the pitcher's bat performance, but realizes "Doc" needs to work on his pitch control. "It's great when a hurler can help his own cause by driving home a run or two. But, he walked that batter in the fifth and [Rich] Dubee [Phillies pitching coach] and I just looked at each other like, 'this guy is killing us. What's with this freakin' guy.' We picked up the bullpen phone, but it was only to scare him a bit."