BOX SCORE
SAN FRANCISCONothing says winning streak quite like a Toyota.
Moments after the Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-2, on Monday night -- the Phils have won two in a row to even their record at 5-5 -- Charlie Manuel sat in the visiting managers office at AT&T Park and answered reporters questions while also taking an occasional peek at a desktop computer.
What had the managers attention?
Toyota trucks. Tacomas. Tundras. All at dealerships in central Florida, where Manuel makes his off-season home.
I'm just looking at trucks, he said with a laugh. If we win some games, I might buy a dealership."
Manuels mood has improved greatly the last few days. His slow-starting team is beginning to generate some runs. Thirteen in two games.
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And while the offense has risen from the doldrums, the starting pitching has remained consistently strong. Roy Halladay followed Cole Hamels Sunday gem with a four-star, workmanlike effort in picking up his third win in as many starts Monday night (see Instant Replay). Halladay held the Giants to two runs over eight innings in outpitching Tim Lincecum, who, like Halladay, is a two-time Cy Young winner.
Struggling to rev up velocity on his fastball, Lincecum is off to a brutal start (10.54 ERA) and his problems continued in the first inning as the Phils came out of the gate with four quick runs. Placido Polancos first extra-base hit of the season, a double that fell between centerfielder Angel Pagan and rightfielder Melky Cabrera, started the uprising and Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino kept it going with singles. The hardest-hit ball of the inning was Laynce Nix two-run double to right.
"We caught some breaks, Manuel said of that opening inning. I think actually in the first inning we were hitting balls in the right place. Nix hit a ball hard. But at the same time we were hitting them where they weren't. That's how the game goes sometimes. I felt like after Lincecum got out of the first inning, he did OK.
Halladay had problems in the first inning -- he has allowed the leadoff man to reach base in 19 of his last 37 starts, including postseason, dating to the start of last season -- but he got better and better as the game went on.
Halladay allowed two hits and two walks in the first inning and said it was mostly because he was fighting his mechanics and trying to do too much. As the game progressed, he found a groove and often it was with his cutter. His velocity topped out at 90 mph, but, typically, he seldom threw a straight pitch.
For me, location and movement has always been more important than velocity, Halladay said. I'd love to be able to throw 95 every pitch, but as long as I'm locating and we're moving it -- I think at times I need to take that as opposed to trying to add velocity. That's where I get myself in trouble.
Halladay battled more than the Giants hitters. He had a tough time connecting with home plate umpire Marty Fosters strike zone. On a couple of occasions, Halladay appeared to be visibly angry with Foster. The two even spoke briefly when Halladay batted in the sixth.
After the game, Halladay said he had no problems with Foster. The time he glared in at home plate? The time he gestured toward Foster?
I was talking to Carlos, Halladay said of catcher Carlos Ruiz.
Halladay is a month shy of his 35th birthday. Hes smart. He has made 356 big-league starts. Hes been around a while and knows theres no use in insulting an umpire when he has a lot more starts ahead of him. Chances are he was being diplomatic when asked about Foster after the game. During the game, he was less diplomatic.
Roy is really intense, Manuel said. It might be OK to get mad as long as you can control yourself and your adrenaline and your focus on the game. Halladay does every bit of that. He never loses focus on what he has to do. He never loses composure on what he has to do.
The ability to keep his composure allowed Halladay to pitch deep into the game. He threw just 24 pitches in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and was in complete control. Jonathan Papelbon closed it out in the ninth and Manuel celebrated the win by opening his Web browser and checking out Toyotas.
The Phils look to keep truckin Tuesday night with Joe Blanton on the mound against Madison Bumgarner.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com