Hardly exciting, but Phils get the win

PHILADELPHIA — There was no reason for it, no excuse.

The Phillies, facing a pitcher in Jason Marquis who came in with a 14.33 ERA, managed just four hits and one run off him in five innings and didn't fare any better against the Nationals' bullpen.

Luckily for the Phillies, Roy Halladay was on the mound, and for the eighth time this season, he didn't allow a run. The bullpen then joined forces and held off Washington, 1-0, at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

"Coming in, I thought we'd score some runs off him," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Phillies' lone run came with two outs in the third inning. Chase Utley and Jayson Werth drew back-to-back walks before Raul Ibanez doubled down the first-base line, scoring Utley.

The Phillies (69-52) had plenty of chances, especially in the first five innings.

They left seven runners (including six in scoring position) stranded through four innings.

"We couldn't get that two-out hit," Manuel said. "We had runners in scoring position and he pitched out of jams, that kind of saved him."

Phillies hitters were even worse against the Nationals' bullpen. Joel Peralta and Doug Slaten combined to throw three perfect innings.

Halladay, who for the 14th time in his 26 starts allowed one run or fewer, found himself in a few jams, but in typical Halladay fashion, he pitched even better when the pressure was on.

The right-hander loaded the bases in the first after giving up a leadoff double, followed by a pair of walks. But he got Roger Bernadina to hit into a double play.

"I battled myself a little bit early," Halladay said. "It's kind of one of those games where you're always working to make pitches. I felt like I made some when I needed to and had a little bit of luck on my side, too. You'll definitely take it on days when you're grinding a little bit to get out of those jams. It's definitely a good feeling."

The little bit of luck Halladay is referring to came in the seventh. With one out and runners on first and second, cleanup hitter Ryan Zimmerman laced a line drive to left. Ibanez made the catch and fired to second base with the hope of doubling up Ian Desmond.

Ibanez's throw was way off, but Utley tracked it down and tagged Desmond, who had overslid the bag. Just like that, the inning was over.

"On a ball hit hard to the outfield, you don't expect a double play," Halladay said. "You're fortunate to have it caught for one, and to get two outs out of it, that's a big play right there. Saves you a big inning, especially in a close game. I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em."

In the third, Washington had runners at the corners, but Halladay got a fly out and a pop-up to end the threat.

By the time he was pulled, he had allowed eight hits and three walks in seven innings. It was his sixth consecutive victory and he extended his scoreless streak to 15.0 innings.

"It was never a game where I was never really out of control," Halladay said. "I was hit-and-miss at times. But games like that where you're able to make pitches when you need to and get out of trouble, you feel good about it afterward. There's games where you cruise through and it's not much work. I definitely got my money's worth [Friday]."

Ryan Madson allowed a leadoff single in the eighth, but retired the next three batters he faced, setting things up for Brad Lidge.

Desmond cracked a two-out double off the left-field wall, but Lidge rebounded by striking out slugger Adam Dunn for his 17th save this season (seventh straight).

The bullpen extended its scoreless innings streak to 15.0.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/phillies/mc-philsnats-gamer-0820-20100820,0,2083204.story