Halladay Tosses Two-Hitter as Jays Blank Twins

TORONTO, 31 May 2005 — Roy Halladay pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out a season-high 10 batters as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Minnesota Twins 4-0 in American League action at the Rogers Center on Sunday.

Halladay (8-2) allowed just a bunt single to Nick Punto in the first inning and an infield single to Shannon Stewart in the fifth inning while pitching his second shutout of the season and the eighth of his career.

The 2003 Cy Young Award winner did not walk a batter while pitching his major league-leading fourth complete game of the season.

Halladay has allowed just one earned run in his last 32 innings pitched after having had his start pushed back due to a strained muscle in his left side. The 28-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.54.

Russ Adams and Vernon Wells homered for the Blue Jays, who had 13 hits off three Twins pitchers, including starter and loser Joe Mays. Aaron Hill and Wells had three hits for the Jays, while Gregg Zaun and Reed Johnson added two hits each. Mays (3-2) allowed two runs on 10 hits over seven innings and took the loss, striking out three and walking one.

In other AL games, Jake Westbrook pitched seven solid innings as the Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 6-2 in Cleveland.

Westbrook (2-7) allowed one run on four hits, walking three and striking out three. Matt Miller pitched 1-1/3 innings for his first save and Victor Martinez homered for Cleveland.

In Baltimore, Dmitri Young homered and drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6.

Chris Spurling (1-0) pitched two innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two for the win. Ugueth Urbina pitched one inning for his eighth save and Craig Monroe homered for the Tigers.

In Arlington, Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 12-4.

Chan Ho Park (5-1) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking four and striking out four for the win. Kevin Mench and Hank Blalock homered for the Rangers.

In Anaheim, Jose Molina had three hits and drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6.

Bartolo Colon (6-3) pitched 7-2/3 innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits and striking out six. Scot Shields pitched one inning for his seventh save.

In St. Petersburg, Jeremy Reed homered and drove in four runs as the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-9. Ron Villone (1-2) got two outs and walked one for the win. Eddie Guardado pitched one inning for his 13th save and Bret Boone homered for the Mariners.

In New York, David Ortiz hit a pair of home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 7-2. Ortiz wound up with four hits and four RBI for the Red Sox while Edgar Renteria homered and had four hits.