Halladay takes sting out of Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - No team has beaten Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay four times in one season. Vernon Wells helped make sure the Tampa Bay Rays didn't.
Halladay beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, and Wells homered and had three RBIs as Toronto beat the American League East-leading Rays, 6-2, last night.
"It's a team that can get you at any point, so you've got to kind of be on your toes," Halladay said. "You can never get too comfortable. You've got to go out and still be aggressive. You can't change your game plan too much, but I think there's a point with teams like this that they're never out of it. It's a tough team to pitch against."
Halladay (16-9) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. The righthander posted a 5.32 ERA in losing his previous three starts against Tampa Bay.
"I honestly don't know how we beat him three times," Rays left fielder Eric Hinske said. "He's probably the best pitcher in baseball. Tonight he had a good night."
Halladay, who struck out seven, is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his last five starts.
Wells had two run-scoring singles and added a solo homer in the ninth that made it 6-2. He is hitting .643 with four homers and nine RBIs in his last three games.
Hinske drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, which has lost consecutive games for just the second time since the All-Star break. Tampa Bay is an AL-best 47-19 at home this season.
The Rays' lead over the second-place Red Sox is 3 1/2 games.
Rays starter James Shields (11-8) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. He had won six of his seven previous starts at home. 