Roy Halladay and Josh Johnson could be in the early stages of a phenomenal pitching rivalry.

Halladay beat Johnson on May 29, throwing a perfect game in a 1-0 victory at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Johnson allowed one unearned run in the loss. But Johnson threw eight scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Phillies last night at Citizens Bank Park. Halladay allowed just one run in eight innings.

Johnson is 2-1 with a 0.44 ERA (one earned run in 20 2/3 innings) in three career starts against Halladay. Elias Sports Bureau said that is the lowest ERA against Halladay amongst pitchers with at least three starts against him.

Halladay is 1-2 with a 1.96 ERA (five earned runs in 23 innings) against Johnson.

Elias also said Thursday’s rematch was the first time a pitcher who threw a perfect game faced the same opposing pitcher with the same team in the same season since Sandy Koufax faced Bob Hendley in 1965. Koufax threw his perfect game Sept. 9 in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, but Hendley threw a four-hitter to beat Koufax five days later in Chicago at Wrigley Field.

Hendley allowed just one hit in nine innings in the loss to Koufax.

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