International heartbreak leads to nervy monday.

Monday July 18th. After witnessing the drama that was the women's world cup and the lack of drama that was the British open patriotic Philadelphia fans had a bad weekend flow into a worse week. Mickelson could not close the gap on Clark as the Irish man insured the British open, trophy stayed in Britain. The US woman could not fend off the Japanese from twice clawing their way back into the cup final and eventually taking the cup in an anticlimactic penalty shootout bringing pride to a nation devastated by an earthquake months earlier.

Halladay struggles to cope with 91 Degree heat wave.

Then monday came along, with the news that football will soon be back, optimism once again took over the city and what better way to start the week then by watching future hall of fame pitcher Roy Halladay putting on a performance against the Chicago cubs. Unfortunately this was not meant to be. Suffering from heat exhaustion Halladay struggled from the mound and had one of his worse outings in a Philadelphia Jersey. "He got real hot and he kind of got dizzy," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said of Roy Halladay who took extra recovery time during innings. After the fifth inning Halladay succumbed to the heat and was taken of the field. By this time Halladay, 11-3 coming into the game, had given up three runs on seven hits. 


It was Halladay's shortest outing as a Phillie and snapped a string of 63 consecutive road starts in which he pitched six or more innings. That was the longest such streak since Walter Johnson went six or more in 82 straight road starts, from 1911-15. Philadelphia could not find a way back into the game eventually falling 6 - 1 to the Chicago Cubs. 


However there is reason for optimism as Halladay said through a club spokesman he would "absolutely" make his next start. Halladays next start will most likely take place this weekend.  As we move forward through the week this provides some comfort to a weekend filled with heartbreak, Halladay will be back to defend the Philadelphia Real Estate that is Citizens bank park against the Padres. There is also more light on the horizon as football fever inches closer and excitement takes over the city of Philadelphia.