Halladay Inn! Jays leave O's feeling blue
Posted: Thu Jul 24 5:08 PM
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Roy Halladay was his usual efficient self on the hill, allowing just one run through seven innings in Toronto's 7-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of their four-game series.
Before Halladay shut down the O's, Toronto needed to finish off Wednesday's rain-suspended game that was halted with the Jays leading 2-1 in the sixth inning. The Jays bullpen backed up A.J. Burnett's strong start on Wednesday to come away with the 5-1 win.
After the first conquest, Halladay (12-7) scattered seven hits and a walk, while striking out six to improve to 18-4 in 28 lifetime appearances -- 24 starts -- against the Orioles.
"[Halladay's] probably the best in the league," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He makes pitches when he has to and he has command of both sides of the plate. He's exceptional."
Gregg Zaun and Lyle Overbay each knocked in a pair of runs for Toronto, which recorded 13 hits in its fourth win in five games. Adam Lind was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for the victors.
Daniel Cabrera (6-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs on 11 hits and a pair of walks in five-plus innings of work. Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora each had two hits for the Orioles, who have lost four of their last five.
Baltimore right fielder Nick Markakis threw out Matt Stairs at home to prevent a run from scoring in the second, but that was close to the only highlight for the home team.
In the third, Joe Inglett scored on a Daniel Cabrera wild pitch, and Overbay singled in a run to give the Jays a 2-0 lead.
Lind opened the away fourth with a double and crossed home when Brad Wilkerson singled past the hole between the first and second basemen.
Overbay came through with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Toronto blew it open with a three-spot an inning later. Daniel Cabrera loaded the bases with the first three hitters of the inning, and Zaun lined a single into the right- field gap to force in two and chase the starter from the game.
Marco Scutaro knocked in a run later in the inning with a sac fly off reliever Fernando Cabrera, and that was more than enough insurance for Halladay and the bullpen.
Luke Scott accounted for the O's lone run with a sacrifice fly following a pair of one-out singles in the sixth.
"It was a team effort," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "Everybody contributed. It's nice to put up seven runs, we haven't been doing that too much. When we do score runs, it takes the pressure off the pitchers." Game Notes
Daniel Cabrera has won just once in his last 11 outings since a 5-1 start...O's relievers allowed just two hits and no walks while fanning five in four scoreless innings of relief...Toronto is 8-4 against the Orioles this season...On Friday, the O's host the Angels for a three-game series, while Toronto hosts Seattle in a three-game set.
