Starting pitcher Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Cincinnati Reds, 4-0, in the first game of the National League division series on Wednesday to book a historic second no-hitter in a postseason. The right-hander's fastballs and slow curves allowed only a walk by Jay Bruce before striking out eight Reds.

Halladay thus joined Don Larsen in the most exclusive of clubs in Major League Baseball and congratulation from the now 81-year-old pitcher who made the feat 54 years ago. Larsen threw a perfect game for the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers en route to a 2-0 victory.

Making the Halladay's perfect game even more memorable was the fact that he made it in his postseason debut. He described the feeling as "surreal" and "a dream come true."

Halladay did not forget catcher Carlos Ruiz for conditioning him, a gesture that Larsen also made on Hall of Famer Yogi Berra for completing the strikeout of seven Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

Larsen commented that hard work did it for Halladay.

"Quite a nice effort he had. You have to give him credit for that," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.

The no-hitter was actually the second for the 2003 AL Cy Young awardee. He had a perfect game at Florida on May 29.