Ross breaks up Halladay's hitless postseason as Phils lose Game 1

by David Murphy

Published Oct. 16, 2010, 9:30 p.m. ET

Well, this is something we aren't used to seeing. After a 4-3 loss to the Giants at Citizens Bank Park in Game 1 of the NLCS, the Phillies find themselves down 1-0 in a playoff series for the first time since 2007. On Sunday, they will start a game while trailing in a series for just the fourth time over the past three postseasons (Games 4, 5, 6 of the World Series last year).

The big question for Game 2: Which Jonathan Sanchez will show up? The Giants lefty led the NL with a .204 batting average against, but also led the NL with 94 walks. He can be wild, or dominant, or wild and dominant.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the Game 1 match-up between Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum, but both pitchers allowed some well-hit balls.

Halladay's hitless-innings streak lasted one out into the third inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. That's when Cody Ross erased it in loud fashion, clubbing a solo home run into the left field seats.

Carlos Ruiz answered it with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the frame -- his fourth career postseason homer -- but Ross homoered again in the fifth inning to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Former Phillie Pat Burrell connected on an RBI double in the sixth, which was followed by an RBI single by Juan Uribe. Raul Ibanez had a play on Burrell's double at the wall, but the ball hit the heel of his glove and bounced out.

Heading into the night, Ross had 13 career home runs against Phillies pitching, more than any other team in the majors. Seven of those home runs had come at Citizens Bank Park, again his highest total at any road ballpark.

Before Ross' home run in the third, the last player to get a hit off of Halladay was Adam Dunn, who led off the eighth inning with a single in the Phillies' 8-0 win over the Nationals on Sept. 27.

Both Lincecum and Halladay had moments where they seemed frustrated with the strike zone of home plate umpire Derryl Cousins. Halladay narrowly missed striking out Burrell before his double, and Lincecum issued a walk to Chase Utley to put runners at second and third before striking out Ryan Howard to end the threat.

When Tim Lincecum hit in the top of the fifth inning, Phillies fans in the lower bowl began whistling at him in the same manner a gentleman might when acknowledging a fine-looking lady. Presumably, this occurred because Lincecum has long, flowing locks of hair.