Roy Halladay Returns To Take On Dbacks In Rubbermatch Finale

(Photo: Todd Zolecki)

ROY HALLADAY IS BACK! Harry Leroy Halladay III will make his first start since May 5th after spending the past three and a half months on the DL! After losing the longest game in Phillies history (7 hours, 6 minutes) last night the Phillies will need to turn to Halladay in an effort to fill in for Tlyer Cloyd, who pitched five scoreless innings last night. Roy Halladay (2-4, 8.65 ERA) will take on Patrick Corbin (13-3, 2.45 ERA) in the rubbermatch this afternoon.

Roy Halladay's status for the season – and his career – was in question after he went down with an injured rotator cuff, abrum, and bone spur in his right throwing shoulder. The veteran had surgery to repair the problems and has been making progress steadily through thorough work out sessions and rehab starts. On Tuesday, Halladay allowed seven hits, two runs and three walks with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for Class-A Lakewood. Hopefully Roy isn't coming back too early. In his career against the Dbacks, Halladay is 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA.

Patrick Corbin is having a fantastic year for the Dbacks, the young lefthander notched his 13th win of the year last time out against the Reds with a complete game effort. Allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out 10 hitters, Corbin continued to impress. Over his last three starts, Corbin is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. In 25 starts behind Corbin, the Dbacks are 24-1. Today willl be Corbin's second start against the Phillies. He is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA against them.

Game Notes:

• The weather is good for Halladay's return. He shouldn't have issues with the heat.
• Last night's 18-inning game lasted 7 hours, 6 minutes – 17 minutes shy of the National League record for longest game ever played.
• Darin Ruf hit his 9th home run in the month of August last night, he leads the NL in most home runs this month.

Phillies lineup: 

1. Roger Bernadina CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Michael Young 1B
4. Erik Kratz C
5. Darin Ruf LF
6. Cody Asche 3B
7. Kevin Frandsen 2B
8. John Mayberry Jr. RF
9. Roy Halladay P.

Dbacks lineup:

1. Tony Campana CF
2. Adam Eaton LF
3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
4. Matt Davidson 3B
5. A.J. Pollock RF
6. Cliff Pennington 2B
7. Did Gregourius SS
8. Tuffy Goeswisch C
9. Patrick Corbin P.

TV: myPHL17
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.