Doc vs. Bud; an epic battle

Roy Halladay and Bud Norris hooked up in an old-fashioned pitchers duel today at Minute Maid Park. The Phillies first two hitters in the first inning produced what would turn out to be the only run of the afternoon. Bud Norris then retired 15 straight batters before yeilding a hit to Halladay to open the sixth inning. After reaching first base Halladay started jawing at Norris. What a douche bag, I mean competitor. It’s late in the season and tempers are starting to get a little shorter. But Roy, c’mon man. Your playoff bound team has come into Houston and been completely shut down by the worst pitching staff in baseball, and you want to start talking trash over a single to right-field?

The blood actually started to boil a little earlier in the game. Norris was squaring around to bunt and Halladay buzzed him up and in. Bud took exception and gave Halladay the evil-eye stare down. Admittedly, Halladay was just doing his job with that pitch and I don’t believe there was any malicious intent. Norris obviously thought otherwise. After Halladay’ s trash talking in the sixth there were no further shenanigans. Doc went the distance earning his 18th victory of the season in a brisk 2 hours and 6 minutes. Norris would leave for a pinch hitter after allowing only four hits and one walk through seven innings. Although the Astros dropped the finale of this series, they can hold their heads high in regard to their overall performance. The Phillies scored only four runs in the three games and were held to a paltry .156 batting average by Astros pitchers.