The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies took two out of three games from Toronto at the Rogers Centre this past weekend.

The Jays had just completed a series win over the Cincinnati Reds, and had previously swept the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park from June 16th – 18th 2009, so they were a confident ball club.

The weekend series started out well for the Jays on Friday, with a 6-1 defeat of the Phillies.

Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero pitched seven brilliant innings, giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out seven.

Ricky Romero's performance Friday was simply amazing.

Romero had a no hit performance stopped by a Chase Utley single in the 7th inning.

The Jays offense got to Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels with a three run fifth inning to increase their lead to 4-0 at the time. The Jays added two more runs against the return of Phillies closer Brad Lidge in the eighth inning, with the game ending 6-1.

The win was a strong group effort from the Jays, as every starting position player reached base at least once, and Jose Bautista was the only Jays starter without a hit.

Some bad news arose from the game on Friday as Jays starting catcher Rod Barajas came up limping in the second inning after hitting a single. Barajas injured his right hamstring and is listed as day to day.

Raul Chavez will take over the starting catching duties, with John McDonald serving as our emergency backup catcher.

It was documented by the Associated Press that the Phillies held a closer door team meeting following the game on Friday, as Friday’s loss was the eleventh loss for the Phillies in their last thirteen games.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the Associated Press “We’re not really playing what you’d call ‘together baseball’ right now”

The team meeting must have awoken the Phillies, as Philadelphia took the next two games from Toronto, and the overall series.

Game two of the series would see the Phillies absolutely dominate the Blue Jays 10-0.

The Jays sent rookie Brad Mills out as their starting pitcher. Mills would be making only his second Major League start (the first being a rocky outing against the same Phildelphia team June 18th).

Mills was rocked by Philadelphia (4.0IP, 8H, 8ER, 2BB, 7K) pushing his Major League ERA to a whopping 14.09.

Jayson Werth (a former Blue Jay who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Jason Frasor) took apart the Blue Jays on the offensive side of things.

Werth went 4 for 4, with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Werth’s home run in the first inning was the first home run shot into the upper deck of the Rogers Centre in five years, and was an outstanding sight to witness.

Philadelphia starting pitcher J.A. Happ pitched a complete game, five hit shutout.

There isn’t much good news to report from the Blue Jays end of things about Saturday’s afternoon game.

The only positive notes were Brandon League and Jesse Carlson, who worked scoreless innings for the Toronto bullpen, and little used, utility man John McDonald going 2 for 3 for the day.

Game three featured Jays lefty Brian Tallet facing off against the ageless wonder himself Jamie Moyer.

A two home run game by Aaron Hill was wasted, as the Jays dropped the series finale 5-4.

Brian Tallet had some major control problems (not a normal occurrence for the big lefty) walking six men over six innings, giving up five runs, four earned, for the loss.

A four run Phillies fourth was the determining factor in this one, as Chase Utley hit a two run triple.

The Jays had their chances in the eighth and ninth inning, but could not cash in.

The Jays loaded the base in the eighth, but could not score against Phillies set-up man Ryan Madson.

The ninth was even more heart breaking, as the Jays had men on first and second with no one out, after an amazing drag bunt infield single from Jays catcher Raul Chavez, followed by a walk from leadoff man Marco Scutaro.

John McDonald would pinch run for Chavez.

McDonald proceeded to get picked off at second, which seemed to spoil the Jays chances of a comeback win.

McDonald attempted a steal of third far too early, as Phillies closer Brad Lidge noticed the mistake, stepped off, and caught McDonald in between second and third for the out.

Aaron Hill set a Blue Jays record on Sunday, with his 19th home run of the season, passing Roberto Alomar.

That seemed to switch the momentum over to the Phillies.

The Jays ended up stranding Scutaro for the game three loss.

The series loss did have some positive notes.

Rolen also moved into sole possession of second place in the American League batting race. Rolen is hitting .333 and only trails Ichiro Suzuki, who is currently hitting an impressive .372.

Aaron Hill broke the all time Blue Jays home run record for a second baseman (17 by Roberto Alomar in 1993 & 17 by Aaron Hill in 2007). Hill currently sits at 19 home runs for the season. Keep in mind that the season is not even half over yet.

Finally, the news all Jays fans were waiting for.

Roy Halladay (10-1, 2.53ERA) pitched a successful bullpen session.

The Jays announced he would start tonight’s game against the Tampa Rays in Toronto.

The “Doc” is back and the Jays fans are hopeful of a long and healthy return, as Halladay is a key component if the Jays want to stay in the American League East race.

As I mentioned above, the Jays begin a crucial three game series at home tonight with the Tampa Rays, have a day off on Thursday, and than travel to the new Yankee Stadium to begin a second crucial series with the New York Yankees, on Friday July 3rd.

The next sixteen games for the Jays are against division rivals. This will be one of the most important stretches of the season, if the Jays want to show the world that they are contenders.

Toronto fans have faith in the Jays, and so does this writer.

Let’s go Blue Jays!

The "Doc" returns tonight.