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Halladay hangs on, helps Phils clip Nats

Apr 14, 2011 - 7:20 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Roy Halladay overcame a shaky ninth inning to toss his 59th career complete game, as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Washington Nationals, 3-2, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Nationals Park.

Halladay took the mound in the ninth aiming for his 20th shutout, but gave up a leadoff double to Rick Ankiel, who advanced to third on a Jayson Werth single. After Adam LaRoche struck out, Laynce Nix and Danny Espinosa stroked consecutive RBI singles before Halladay fanned both pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and Ivan Rodriguez to end the game.

"You always remain confident with a guy like Roy on the mound," said Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard when asked if there was panic in the ninth inning. "It was his game to win or lose."

Halladay (2-0) allowed only two hits through the first eight innings and finished with nine strikeouts.

Placido Polanco went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI for the Phillies, who improved to 8-3 on the young season.

John Lannan (1-1) surrendered three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in six innings for Washington, which had won four of its previous five games.

"We battled to the end," Lannan said. "We didn't make it easy for them."

The Phillies put their first two batters of the game on base but failed to score.

Philadelphia threatened again in the third when Wilson Valdez singled and Shane Victorino drew a one-out walk. Polanco, though, grounded into an inning-ending double play. Washington stranded two runners in the home third.

Alert base running by Jimmy Rollins helped the Phillies grab a 1-0 lead. Rollins, leading off the fourth, reached on shortstop Ian Desmond's fielding error. Howard then hit a grounder to the right side and was thrown out at first. Because the Nationals employed a defensive shift, third base was left unoccupied. Knowing this, Rollins hustled around second, but had his path impeded by Desmond, who was called for interference. Rollins was awarded third and came home on a groundout by Ben Francisco.

Philadelphia's first two batters were aboard in the fifth, and this time the visitors took advantage as Polanco's two-out single plated Valdez. After Rollins singled to load the bases, Lannan hit Howard with a pitch to make it 3-0. Lannan retired Francisco on a fly ball to limit the damage to only two runs.

Game Notes

Halladay, who issued two walks, has now won each of his last 11 starts against National League East opponents...Both teams had six hits.