Halladay Keeps Streak Going Against Red Sox

Roy Halladay returned from the All-Star break the way he started it -- with a blazing fastball, sharp control and a three-month unbeaten streak.

He won his 14th straight decision and gave up nine hits in his second complete game of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Red Sox, 5-2, Thursday night at Boston.

“It’s a nice number and after that it really doesn’t mean much,” he said of the streak. “If it ends, it ends. Fine.”

It shouldn’t end for a while if he keeps pitching the way he did Thursday. He struck out five, walked none and has given up only one walk in 33 innings.

Halladay’s winning streak is the longest in the majors since Roger Clemens won 16 consecutive decisions for the New York Yankees in 2001.

Kansas City 7, Seattle 1 -- Jose Lima won the sixth straight start of his stunning comeback but left because of a groin injury at Kansas City, Mo.

Lima (6-0) gave up five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five, walking two and hitting a batter. He lowered his ERA to 2.41 as the AL Central-leading Royals improved to 7-0 in his starts.

With a runner on first in the sixth, Lima bent over in pain after a 1-and-1 pitch to Randy Winn. Jason Grimsley relieved.

New York 5, Cleveland 4 -- Hideki Matsui led off the ninth inning with a home run, giving the Yankees a come-from-behind win at New York.

Matsui hit a 1-and-0 pitch from David Riske into the center-field bleachers. Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Riske (2-2) to tie the score, 4-4.

Minnesota 6, Oakland 2 -- Torii Hunter and A.J. Pierzynski drove in two runs at Minneapolis as the Twins ended an eight-game losing skid.

Texas 12, Tampa Bay 6 -- Juan Gonzalez went three for five with four RBIs at St. Petersburg, Fla. Gonzalez hit his 429th homer, a three-run drive, and added a run-scoring double.

Detroit 10, Chicago 9 -- Dmitri Young homered and drove in three runs to lead the Tigers past the White Sox in a game delayed more than three hours by rain at Chicago.