The best Halladay gift ever

Roy Halladay becomes the second pitcher – the New York Yankees’ Don Larsen being the first – to throw a no-hitter in the postseason as Halladay and the Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series 14 years ago today in Philadelphia.

Working in front of a Wednesday night crowd of 46,411 in South Philly, Halladay strikes out eight with only a two-out walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth inning keeping him from a perfect game.

Larsen, of course, is perfect in his postseason gem, allowing no baserunners in beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

“I think you try to disconnect yourself from the emotions a little bit,” Halladay tells ESPN after the game.

Halladay, of course, is familiar with that “disconnect” having earlier in the 2010 season pitching a perfect game against the Marlins in Miami.

Roy Halladay getting ready to work in the top of the ninth inning 14 years ago today

“Knowing that you’ve prepared yourself, you’re ready,” Halladay says, “and you try to go out and execute your plan.”

The plan against the Reds, though, nearly does not come to fruition as Brandon Phillips comes oh so close to spoiling the no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning.

Phillips, the Reds’ leadoff hitter, hits a tapper on Halliday’s 0-2 pitch to him. The ball rolls a few feet in front of the plate with Phillips’ bat landing next to it.

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz manages to avoid the speedy Phillips breaking out the box and the bat now in his way.

Ruiz finally reaches he ball and, from his knees, barely throwing out Phillips at first base for the final out.

“That was real difficult right there, with a no-hitter going,” Ruiz tells ESPN. “If I don’t make that play, oh, my God, I’m gonna feel bad.”