Phillies starting pitcher Halladay celebrates after throwing a no-hitter against the Reds in Game 1 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoffs in Philadelphia

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Game 1 Recap: In what’s being called “the year of the pitcher,” nothing could have been more appropriate than Roy Halladay’s no-hitter in Game 1 of the Phillies' NLDS series with the Reds. Making his first career postseason start at age 33, Halladay struck out eight and was one walk away from a perfect game.

The Philly hitters held up their end as well and the Phillies cruised to a 4-0 win.

Shane Victorino scored the first run off a Chase Utley sacrifice fly in the first inning. Halladay’s single in the second inning scored Carlos Ruiz, followed a Victorino single scored that scored two.

Cincinnati reached base just once, when Halladay gave up a walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth inning.

Edinson Volquez pitched just 1 2/3 innings for the Reds, allowing four hits, four earned runs and two walks.

Key Moment: Halladay getting Drew Stubbs to ground out after losing a bit of control in the fifth inning and walking Jay Bruce.

Game Changer: Cincinnati was never a threat to the Phillies in this game. The only game changer was Halladay walking Bruce in the fifth, as it took away his perfect game.

Play of the Game: Not only did Roy Halladay pitch the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history (Don Larsen pitched the first, throwing a perfect game for the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series), he also had an RBI.  Halladay singled to left field in the second inning, scoring Carlos Ruiz and putting the Phillies up 2-0.

Unsung Hero: Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a run and two RBIs. Doesn’t sound like much next to Halladay’s no-no, but Victorino accounted for more than half the Phillies' offense.

Quote of the Game: “To go out and have a game like that, it’s a dream come true.”- Halladay

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning during their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Game 1 Recap: Cliff Lee led the Rangers to a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Ian Kinsler scored first for Texas off Jeff Francoeur’s double to center field in the second inning. Francoeur scored off a Bengie Molina single in the same inning and, after solo home runs by Nelson Cruz and Molina in the third and fourth innings, the Rangers had a 4-0 lead over Tampa Bay.

The Rangers would score one more run before the Rays made a little noise with a solo home run by Ben Zobrist in the seventh.

Key Moment: Lee struck out Rocco Baldelli to get the third out in the first inning with the bases loaded for Tampa Bay.

Game Changer: David Price, a front-runner for the Cy Young Award, allowed nine hits, four earned runs and two home runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Play of the Game: Francoeur's deep double off Price put Texas up 1-0 and got the Rangers' offense going.

Unsung Hero: Cliff Lee had 10 strikeouts and no walks in his sixth playoff start. He retired 16 of 17 batters before Zobrist’s home run in the seventh inning and is now 5-0 in six starts in the playoffs.

Quote of the Game: “It’s not time to sit here and pat myself on the back. We’ve got a lot of work to do” – Lee
   

New York Yankees' Teixeira is congratulated at the plate by teammate Swisher in Minneapolis

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Game 1 Recap: The Twins led the Yankees early in Game 1 of the ALDS, but the Yankees came back and ruined the first postseason game at Target Field for the Minnesota faithful, winning 6-4.

C.C. Sabathia gave up a two-run home run to Michael Cuddyer in the second inning. Later, Orlando Hudson scored on a passed ball and Minnesota led 3-0. 

The Yankees didn’t get their offense going until the sixth inning when Robinson Cano singled with two men on base, scoring Mark Teixeira. Later in the sixth, Curtis Granderson tripled to right field; Cano and Posada scored, giving the Yankees their first lead at 4-3.

Sabathia walked Danny Valencia with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to tie it up again at 4-4.

But Teixeira responded with a two-run homer in the seventh to give the Yankees the lead again.

Mariano Rivera came in later to make sure the Twins wouldn’t score again. And they didn’t.

Key Moment: Teixeira's two-run homer in the seventh pretty much sealed the game for the Yankees.

Game Changer: When Rivera came in late in the eighth, all hope was lost for the Twins.

Play of the Game: Curtis Granderson’s triple in the sixth that gave the Yankees the lead illustrated how little it means to have a lead early against the Yanks.

Unsung Hero: Jorge Posada went 2-4 with a run and an RBI.

Quote of the Game: “Game winning homers, there’s nothing better” - Teixeira

To reach writer Kamille Simmons, click here.

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