Phillies' Halladay, Papelbon blank Pirates

PITTSBURGH -- If only Roy Halladay and the Phillies had gotten this 1-0 win last October.

Halladay was nearly flawless for eight innings Thursday as the Phillies opened the season by edging the Pirates.

Missing injured stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phillies scored the run they needed off Eric Bedard on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Ruiz in the seventh. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his first National League save.

"It was a good game for us," Halladay said. "It went the way we wanted and Papelbon came in and got his feet wet and got that out of the way. All in all, I think it was a good way to do it."

For Halladay and his teammates, it was a familiar score with a different winner. Their season ended last year when Halladay lost a 1-0 decision to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals in the deciding Game 5 in the first round of the playoffs.

The Phillies are the favorites to win their sixth straight NL East title.

Making his 10th Opening Day start, Halladay didn't argue when Charlie Manuel opted to bring in Papelbon. "I understand at this point," said Halladay, who threw 92 pitches. "A couple weeks from now, I'm going to fight him."

The two-time Cy Young winner sparkled, giving up only two first-inning singles and striking out five without issuing a walk. Halladay was pulled three outs before getting a chance at his 21st shutout.

"We just didn't get many pitches to hit," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.