It was just like old times yesterday at Citizens Bank Park.
Yes, that was Roy Halladay on the mound. The Phils former right-handed ace was expected to make another rehab start in Double-A Reading as he continued to work his way back from shoulder surgery in May.
But that was before the Phils used their expected Sunday starter, Tyler Cloyd, for five innings in that marathon, 18-inning affair that stretched into the wee hours of Sunday morning.
So yes, that was Halladay standing out on the hill just a few hours later on Sunday afternoon.
Make no mistake, this was not the Roy Halladay old. His velocity is still not there. But it was more than enough to baffle the Diamondbacks. Halladay went six pretty strong innings, surrendering two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two.
The question now is just how much velocity Halladay can expect to regain.
"I felt good and feel like each time out it's getting better," Halladay said after pitching at Citizens Bank park, rather than in Reading. Halladay was resting Saturday night in a Reading hotel room when his room phone and cell phone started ringing. Instead of a minor league rehab setting, he was soon in a car making the 70-mile commute to South Philly. "I'm getting stronger and looking forward to continuing to build."
It was Halladay's first victory since April 19 against the Cardinals.
Halladay belives the surgery has allowed him to regain movement in his arm and lets him get his arm in the correct slot. He said doctors told him his velocity will be the last thing to return.
For now, the Phillies likely will take what they got yesterday, with Halladay using a slow curveball and cutter that was registering in the high 80s on the radar gun.
After watching outfielder Casper Wells close out that bizarre game Saturday night, Halladay was a sight for sore eyes.
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