Halladay, Jays stop Orioles
Roy Halladay beat Baltimore for the first time this season, leading the visiting Blue Jays over the Orioles, 6-2, last night.
Halladay (11-4) entered 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA in two outings against the Orioles, who saw their East lead over the Red Sox trimmed to a half game. But the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner looked better against them this time, allowing two runs and seven hits in eight innings.
Halladay struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 2.51.
His two defeats to Baltimore were the only losses he suffered in his first 12 starts. He was 9-0 with a 1.60 ERA in his other 10 outings.
''You obviously know about it, but I try to focus on my game," Halladay said. ''If you do let it affect you, sometimes it's tougher to pitch that way. Maybe you feel like you have something to prove, or whatever, but those are things that distract you."
Orlando Hudson had three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who took three of four from the first-place Orioles to move within 5 1/2 games. Toronto is fourth in the East.
Sidney Ponson (7-5) allowed six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 5.42.
Devil Rays 9, Yankees 4 -- Jorge Cantu hit a pair of two-run homers, and Tampa Bay won its first series at Yankee Stadium in more than five years.
Damon Hollins added a three-run double as Tampa Bay took three of four from the Yankees and improved to 1-10-1 in road series this season. The Devil Rays are 8-29 on the road but half those wins have been at Yankee Stadium, where they are 4-2. They do not have a winning record in any other ballpark, including their own, where they are 18-18.
Twins 6, Tigers 2 -- Carlos Silva pitched a complete game, working around nine hits and spurring Minnesota out of its slump with a victory over Detroit in Minneapolis.
The Twins took advantage of Jason Johnson's bases-loaded wild pitch -- and mental mistake (not covering home plate) -- in the first, and went on to end a four-game losing streak. Matthew LeCroy homered and drove in three runs as Minnesota won for only the fourth time in its last 13 games.
Athletics 5, Mariners 0 -- Kirk Saarloos pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout, leading Oakland to victory in Seattle.
Saarloos (4-4) tied his career high with seven strikeouts and walked none. Scott Hatteberg had four of Oakland's 16 hits.
