Halladay Stops Arizona

Roy Halladay didn’t have his best stuff, but he still had some fun against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Halladay pitched out of trouble to remain unbeaten on the road and Eric Hinske and Darrin Fletcher homered to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-3 victory Sunday.

“I had to battle through some tough innings and tough situations,” Halladay said. “It was a fun game to pitch in.”

Carlos Delgado and Felipe Lopez each drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who won two of three at Arizona. The Diamondbacks, who had held at least a share of first place in the National League West since May 16, fell a game behind the Dodgers.

“We’re not playing the kind of ball we’re capable of playing,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said. “We’ve been inconsistent.”

Halladay (9-3) worked out of three jams to raise his road record to 6-0 in nine starts. He gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

“Get out of the tough times with only one run, that’s what the great ones do,” Manager Carlos Tosca said. “I don’t think there’s any questions he’s the staff ace.”

Halladay ranks in the top 10 in the AL in victories and earned-run average (3.19), which could land him another road assignment--in the All-Star game next month at Milwaukee.