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AL: Halladay finally beats Tampa Bay
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | No comments posted.
The Tampa Bay Rays were 3-0 this season against Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Just like every other team which had ever been in that situation against the right-hander, they didn’t get the fourth win.
Halladay beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, and Vernon Wells homered and had three RBIs as the Blue Jays beat the AL East leaders 6-2 on Tuesday night.
“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 (16-9) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He had a 5.32 ERA in losing his previous three starts against Tampa Bay this year, nowhere near the 2.69 figure he has for the season.
“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 struck out seven and 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. He his hitting .643 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last three games.
“When Doc is on the mound, you’ve just got to scratch out a few (runs) and you’ve got a chance to win,” Wells said.
Rod Barajas hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of their last 13 road games.
Hinske drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, which 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 second-place Boston in the division dropped to 31⁄2 games.
Rays starter James Shields (11-8) went 6 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits.
“Definitely the margin is slim,” Shields said of facing Halladay. “He’s one of the premier pitchers in the league. I thought I pitched pretty well tonight, but when you’re facing Halladay, you’ve got to be in your ‘A’ game.”
Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won in his return from the disabled list and Jason Bay drove in two runs for visiting Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
Johnny Damon homered twice for the Yankees, but Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-5 and grounded into two double plays — one with the bases loaded — and struck out for the game’s final out.
Wakefield (8-8) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. Five relievers combined for four scoreless innings, and Jonathan Papelbon got four outs for his 34th save.
Andy Pettitte (13-10) was touched for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
White Sox 8, Orioles 3
Gavin Floyd (14-6) allowed four hits over eight innings for Chicago while Nick Swisher homered and Ken Griffey Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his 2,500th career game.
Orlando Cabrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the first-place White Sox, who have won eight of 10 to move a season-high 20 games over .500 (76-56). Chicago had nine extra-base hits, including a season high-tying seven doubles.
Mariners 3, Twins 2
Jose Lopez’s single drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth and Roy Corcoran got his first career save for host Seattle.
The Twins lost their fourth in a row and fell two games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central, its largest deficit since play began on July 27. The Twins are 21⁄2 games behind Boston in the AL wild card.
Angels 5, Athletics 1
John Lackey came within two outs of his first shutout of the season and Torii Hunter had three hits for host Los Angeles.
Lackey (11-2) gave up seven hits and struck out five without a walk. He lost the shutout bid to Jack Cust’s 23rd home run.
Indians 10, Tigers 4
At Detroit, Cliff Lee got his league-leading 19th win and Ben Francisco hit two home runs in Cleveland’s ninth straight victory.
Jamey Carroll and Kelly Shoppach hit back-to-back homers for the Indians, who overtook Detroit for third place in the AL Central.
Lee (19-2) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings to tie Brandon Webb of Arizona for the major league lead in wins.
Rangers 2, Royals 1
Kevin Millwood pitched his second straight complete game and both Texas runs were unearned.
The Royals have lost 16 of 19 and have been outscored 123-54 in that span to fall a season-worst 20 games below .500.
Ramon Ramirez (2-2) gave up an unearned run and three hits in two innings.
Halladay beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, and Vernon Wells homered and had three RBIs as the Blue Jays beat the AL East leaders 6-2 on Tuesday night.
“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 (16-9) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He had a 5.32 ERA in losing his previous three starts against Tampa Bay this year, nowhere near the 2.69 figure he has for the season.
“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 struck out seven and 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. He his hitting .643 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last three games.
“When Doc is on the mound, you’ve just got to scratch out a few (runs) and you’ve got a chance to win,” Wells said.
Rod Barajas hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of their last 13 road games.
Hinske drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, which 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 second-place Boston in the division dropped to 31⁄2 games.
Rays starter James Shields (11-8) went 6 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits.
“Definitely the margin is slim,” Shields said of facing Halladay. “He’s one of the premier pitchers in the league. I thought I pitched pretty well tonight, but when you’re facing Halladay, you’ve got to be in your ‘A’ game.”
Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won in his return from the disabled list and Jason Bay drove in two runs for visiting Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
Johnny Damon homered twice for the Yankees, but Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-5 and grounded into two double plays — one with the bases loaded — and struck out for the game’s final out.
Wakefield (8-8) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. Five relievers combined for four scoreless innings, and Jonathan Papelbon got four outs for his 34th save.
Andy Pettitte (13-10) was touched for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
White Sox 8, Orioles 3
Gavin Floyd (14-6) allowed four hits over eight innings for Chicago while Nick Swisher homered and Ken Griffey Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his 2,500th career game.
Orlando Cabrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the first-place White Sox, who have won eight of 10 to move a season-high 20 games over .500 (76-56). Chicago had nine extra-base hits, including a season high-tying seven doubles.
Mariners 3, Twins 2
Jose Lopez’s single drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth and Roy Corcoran got his first career save for host Seattle.
The Twins lost their fourth in a row and fell two games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central, its largest deficit since play began on July 27. The Twins are 21⁄2 games behind Boston in the AL wild card.
Angels 5, Athletics 1
John Lackey came within two outs of his first shutout of the season and Torii Hunter had three hits for host Los Angeles.
Lackey (11-2) gave up seven hits and struck out five without a walk. He lost the shutout bid to Jack Cust’s 23rd home run.
Indians 10, Tigers 4
At Detroit, Cliff Lee got his league-leading 19th win and Ben Francisco hit two home runs in Cleveland’s ninth straight victory.
Jamey Carroll and Kelly Shoppach hit back-to-back homers for the Indians, who overtook Detroit for third place in the AL Central.
Lee (19-2) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings to tie Brandon Webb of Arizona for the major league lead in wins.
Rangers 2, Royals 1
Kevin Millwood pitched his second straight complete game and both Texas runs were unearned.
The Royals have lost 16 of 19 and have been outscored 123-54 in that span to fall a season-worst 20 games below .500.
Ramon Ramirez (2-2) gave up an unearned run and three hits in two innings.
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