TORONTO — Roy Halladay pitched a one-hitter to snap a
three-start losing streak and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 6-0 Friday
night, ending New York's winning streak at seven games.
Aaron Hill doubled twice and had two RBIs and Adam Lind
had three hits for the Blue Jays, who won for the first time in five games.
The AL East-leading Yankees lost for the first time on
their current seven-game road trip. New York has won 14 of 18 away from home.
The complete game was the sixth of the season for
Halladay (14-8), tying him with Kansas City's Zack Greinke for the major league
lead, and the 46th of his career.
He struck out nine and walked three to win for the first
time since Aug. 14 at Tampa Bay.
Halladay had matched a career high by losing three
straight coming in but was sharp from the get-go in this one. The right-hander
was perfect through the first 4 2-3 before walking Jorge Posada on a 3-2 pitch
in the fifth. Unbothered, Halladay struck out Robinson Cano to end the inning.
Shortstop Ramiro Pena broke up Halladay's no-hit bid in
the sixth with a one-out double into the right field corner. Johnny Damon popped
out before walks to Eric Hinske and Mark Teixeira loaded the bases for Alex
Rodriguez, who struck out looking.
That was the first of 10 straight outs by Halladay, who
needed no help in closing things out.
The same could not be said of New York starter Joba
Chamberlain (8-5). The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in three
innings and has not won in five starts. He threw 59 pitches, walked two and
struck out two.
The Yankees have placed strict limits on Chamberlain's
workload in his first full season as a starter to protect his arm and keep him
fresh for the playoffs. The 23-year-old was pulled after three innings and 35
pitches in his last start, an Aug. 31 home win over the Chicago White Sox.
Toronto jumped on Chamberlain with two in the first,
forcing him to throw 28 pitches. Aaron Hill and Adam Lind hit back-to-back
doubles and Lind scored on a fielding error by Pena.
Chamberlain gave up two singles but needed just 11
pitches to get through the second. He labored again in the third, though,
throwing 20 pitches and falling behind 3-0 on Joe Inglett's RBI single.
Chamberlain is 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA in three starts
against the Blue Jays this season.
Toronto added one more off reliever Mark Melancon in the
fifth when Marco Scutaro drew a bases-loaded walk.
Hill made it 6-0 with a bases-loaded double in the
seventh.
Jonathan Albaladejo worked one inning, Michael Dunn got
two outs in his major league debut and Edwar Ramirez pitched 1 1-3 for the
Yankees.
Notes
Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera (groin) will throw a
light bullpen Saturday and could pitch again Sunday, manager Joe Girardi said.
… New York SS Derek Jeter and OF Nick Swisher got the day off. Jeter jammed a
finger on his right hand diving for a ball Thursday but the injury is not
considered serious. … Albaladejo was recalled from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes
Barre on Thursday. … Toronto 1B Lyle Overbay (finger) was held out of the
lineup and is day-to-day. … Scutaro snapped a career-worst 0 for 19 slump with
a single in the second.