No Protesting Williams’ Dominance of Blue Jays

Woody Williams has never been better, holding Toronto hitless for 7 1/3 innings, hitting his first career triple with the bases loaded and driving in a career-best four runs batted in.

“He did it all,” Manager Tony La Russa said after Williams and the St. Louis Cardinals romped, 13-5, Thursday night in a game the Blue Jays played under protest.

“Tonight was fun,” Williams said. “I may not ever experience anything like this again.”

The Cardinals swept the three-game series, outscoring Toronto, 32-15.

The Blue Jays lodged their protest in the second inning after an umpire’s reversal on a fly ball cost them a triple play. Toronto Manager Carlos Tosca was ejected for the first time in his major league career by third base umpire Kerwin Danley, who had ruled Frank Catalanotto made a shoe-top catch.

“They tried to explain to me they were trying to get the play right,” Tosca said. “That was their only rebuttal to me.”

Tosca said he protested the game, however, because the Blue Jays should have had a forceout at second on the play. He knew Catalanotto had not caught the ball.

“Yeah, I knew that at the time,” Tosca said. “I could see that from where I was sitting. But when two umpires make a definitive out call, well ... “

Williams (8-1) gave up one hit in eight shutout innings, striking out five and walking one. He dominated the team he played for from 1993 to ‘98, giving up only Orlando Hudson’s clean single to right field on a 1-2 pitch.

There hasn’t been a no-hitter at Busch Stadium since Bob Forsch beat Montreal in 1983.