Halladay with a gutsy performance

Roy Halladay lumbered through the last inning, but there was no way he was coming out of the game.

Not even a mound visit by Charlie Manual was going to prevent Halladay from throwing another complete game.

With the tying run at second base, Halladay struck out Matt Stairs and Ivan Rodriguez to end the game - a 124 pitch, nine strikeout 3-2 win.

Halladay took a shut out into the ninth. After a double and single to start the inning, Halladay struck out Adam LaRoche. Two hits followed to put the tying run on second before Halladay closed the door.

Phillies closer Jose Contreras was ready to go, but Manuel decided to leave his ace in after talking it over with Halladay.

It was a gutsy performance. He was tired. But Halladay is a competitor.

And this my friends, is why he is our ace.