Halladay Throws 6-Hitter, Blue Jays Shut Down Rangers 4-1
By DAVID JIMENEZ | Associated Press | Apr 12, 08 10:04 PM CDT in
Sports
Roy Halladay threw a six-hit complete game, and Aaron Hill drove in three runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Texas Rangers 4-1 Saturday night.
Marlon Byrd broke up Halladay's shutout bid with an RBI double with one out in the ninth. Halladay (2-1) struck out six, walked one and threw 109 pitches for his 32nd complete game.
Hill had an RBI double in the first inning and a two-run single in the fourth. Matt Stairs and Joe Inglett added three hits for the Blue Jays, who won for just the fifth time in their last 21 games at Texas.
The Toronto ace came into the game with an ERA of 7.00 in nine starts at Texas. After Byrd's double, Halladay retired David Murphy and Frank Catalanotto on groundouts to end the game.
Luis Mendoza (0-1) made his first start of the season for the Rangers after coming off the disabled list earlier in the day. He had been sidelined with a blister on his right middle finger.
Mendoza allowed four runs _ only one earned _ and eight hits in five innings before Josh Rupe relieved him. Mendoza walked three and hit two batters.
The Blue Jays touched up Mendoza early on Hill's RBI double in the first.
Toronto extended its lead thanks to Hill's clutch hitting and Hank Blalock's fielding error.
With Stairs on first and two outs in the fourth, Blalock misplayed Gregg Zaun's soft liner that allowed him to reach base. Inglett followed with an RBI single that made it 2-0.
After a walk to load the bases, Hill singled off the glove of shortstop Michael Young to bring home two runs.
That was more than enough support for Halladay.
Halladay allowed Ian Kinsler's single and walked Josh Hamilton in the first.
Murphy doubled leading off the second and advanced to third on a grounder. But Halladay worked out of trouble when he struck out Gerald Laird and got a groundout from Broussard.
Halladay retired 13 in a row starting in the third before Byrd singled in the seventh.
Notes:@ The Rangers placed LHP Eddie Guardado on the 15-day DL with a sore shoulder. Guardado has made two scoreless appearances with the Rangers this season. ... Inglett started at third base and batted ninth after he was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. ... Hamilton started in right field instead of his normal center field, and OF Milton Bradley was given the day off. ... Toronto RF Alex Rios, who was 1-for-4, reached base for the 22nd straight game dating back to last season. That is the longest active streak in the American League.
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