TORONTO (AP) -- Roy Halladay answered all questions about his
health with one of the most dominant starts of his career.
Halladay pitched a two-hitter for his second shutout of the
season, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-0 victory over the
Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Halladay (8-2) allowed only a bunt single to Nick Punto in the
first and an infield single to Shannon Stewart in the fifth. The
2003 Cy Young Award winner had a season-high 10 strikeouts and
walked none for the eighth shutout of his career and his first
since pitching a three-hitter against the New York Yankees on April
29.
"I didn't feel anything. I'm excited about going forward
knowing everything is good," Halladay said.
Halladay's start was pushed back a few days because of a
strained left side muscle, but he showed he's healthy by pitching
his major league-leading fourth complete game and lowering his ERA
to 2.54.
The 28-year-old right-hander extended his scoreless streak to 17
2/3 innings, and he's allowed just one earned run in his last 32
innings. He equaled his win total from last year, when was limited
to 21 starts because of a troublesome right shoulder and went 8-8.
"I'm going out and feeling good," Halladay said. "Being able
to jump back in and get back to normal is what I look forward to."
Halladay allowed just three balls to the outfield.
"Doc never ceases to amaze me," Toronto center fielder Vernon
Wells said. "It's good to see him back. He's a guy that we don't
have to do much offensively to win games."
Michael Cuddyer was the only other Twins player to reach base
when he was hit by a pitch in the eighth.
"I don't know what they are talking about him missing starts.
It definitely didn't show today," Cuddyer said. "When a Cy Young
Award winner has got their stuff on that day, there's not very much
you can do. They are going to dominate."
Toronto ended Minnesota's three-game winning streak and improved
to 9-2 when Halladay starts.
Russ Adams and Vernon Wells homered for the Blue Jays, who
avoided a three-game sweep.
Toronto's Reed Johnson doubled in the fifth and scored on Aaron
Hill's RBI single off Joe Mays (3-2).
Adams led off the seventh with his homer, giving Toronto 2-0
lead.
Mays, who lost for the first time in five road starts, allowed
two runs and 10 hits in seven innings.
Mays said Halladay was unbeatable.
"The way he threw the ball today, it was something special,"
Mays said.
Wells hit a solo shot off J.C. Romero in the eighth, his
team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun followed with a triple to right
center in the eighth, his first triple since 2002. Pinch-hitter
Alex Rios' RBI single off Jessie Crain made it 4-0.
Game notes
The Blue Jays had 13 hits. ... Twins C Joe Mauer didn't
start for the fifth straight game because of a tight right groin.
... The Blue Jays optioned struggling RHP David Bush to Triple-A
Syracuse and recalled right-hander Chad Gaudin. Bush was 0-5 with a
4.89 ERA in 10 starts. Gaudin went 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 10 starts
at Syracuse. He will replace Bush in the starting rotation. ... The
Blue Jays have five shutouts this season.