“I felt good,’’ Halladay said. “Even at the end I felt good. It was one of those days where, especially through the middle innings, there weren’t a lot of high-stress pitches, and I think that plays a part into it, especially being able to throw more pitches. If you’re doing it with the bases loaded every inning, it takes a different toll.’’
Halladay’s 130 pitches were the most in the majors this year.
Halladay was so dominant, mostly with his changeup and curveball, that San Diego didn’t get a runner past first base until the ninth. He allowed only five singles while walking one.
Halladay, who struck out at least 10 for the 12th time in his career, fanned six straight at one point. He struck out everyone in the lineup except pitcher Wade LeBlanc.
He retired 16 in a row until the ninth. Halladay also struck out 14 as a Blue Jay on June 2, 2009, against the Angels.
“He’s one of the best in all of baseball,’’ San Diego manager Bud Black said. “He was on today. We got to him, but it was a little bit too late.’’
Shane Victorino hit an inside-the-park home run leading off the seventh inning for the Phillies when his drive into right-center went off Venable’s glove as his arm hit the ground while trying to make a diving catch.
Rays 2, Blue Jays 0 — James Shields pitched a four-hitter for his second consecutive complete game, Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer, and visiting Tampa Bay shut out Toronto.
Shields (2-1) threw just 95 pitches, wrapping up his seventh career complete game in a brisk 2 hours, 5 minutes. The righthander also threw a four-hitter against the White Sox last Tuesday.
Shields struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 2.35. The Rays won for the 10th time in 14 games following a 1-8 start.
Braves 9, Giants 6 — Nate McLouth hit a two-run single off Brian Wilson with two outs in the 10th inning and visiting Atlanta held off San Francisco for a three-game sweep.
