• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Halladay, Phils shut down Reds

Aug 31, 2011 - 2:34 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Roy Halladay on ample rest spelled disaster for the Reds, as the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner hurled seven scoreless innings in Philadelphia's 9-0 blowout win.

Halladay (16-5), making his first start since August 21, struck out nine while giving up just two hits and two walks in another stellar outing. Notoriously ineffective at the plate, Halladay also drove in his first runs of the season with a three-run double in the sixth.

The Phillies belted four home runs to back their ace, two coming from Ryan Howard. Hunter Pence and Raul Ibanez also went deep in the club's second straight win to start this four-game set.

Bronson Arroyo (8-11) continued his struggles against Philadelphia, as he was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander entered with a 7.13 earned run average against the Phils.

Howard's 28th home run, preceded by Chase Utley's walk, gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the fourth.

Pence hit a letter-high fastball over the wall in right-center to extend the lead in the sixth, and Halladay came up with the bases loaded later in the frame.

The intense righty, who had recorded just six hits in 58 at-bats this season before entering the box, laced a double into the right-field corner to clear the bags, effectively ending Arroyo's night.

Ibanez tacked on a two-run shot off Logan Ondrusek in the seventh, and Halladay, following a string of 17 straight hitters retired, worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom half.

Howard crushed a solo shot in the ninth, and Brad Lidge and Michael Schwimer each hurled an inning in relief to finish the shutout, the Phillies' 18th of the season.

Game Notes

Howard, who recorded his 28th career multi-home run game, snapped a tie with Chuck Klein for the franchise record for consecutive 100-RBI seasons...Halladay lowered his ERA to 2.47...Ibanez had three of the Phillies' 11 hits...Arroyo has given up an MLB-high 36 home runs this season...The Phillies have won nine of the last 10 regular-season meetings...Cincinnati was riding a four-game winning streak entering the set.