Halladay Works Extra to Beat Tigers, 1-0

Roy Halladay wanted to go 12 innings. Ten was enough.

Halladay pitched the first extra-inning shutout in the major leagues since Jack Morris in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, leading the Toronto Blue Jays over the Detroit Tigers, 1-0, Saturday.

“I really didn’t want to come out,” said Halladay, who threw 99 pitches, 70 for strikes. “I felt like I had at least two more.”

Halladay (19-6) didn’t give up a hit until pinch-hitter Kevin Witt doubled off the wall in left-center field with two out in the eighth inning. He finished with a three-hitter.

“Doc could have pitched until tomorrow,” catcher Kevin Cash said.

Manager Carlos Tosca said Halladay would have pitched the 11th, if necessary.

“He was still dominating,” Tosca said.

The last extra-inning shutout had been Morris’ seven-hit, 1-0 victory for Minnesota over Atlanta in the 1991 World Series.

Toronto scored after Fernando Rodney (0-2) walked Eric Hinske and pinch-hitter Howie Clark sacrificed. Orlando Hudson struck out for the second out and Rodney intentionally walked pinch-hitter Greg Myers. Bobby Kielty, batting for Reed Johnson, drove in Hinske with a single to center field.

Halladay, who struck out five and walked one, is tied for the major league lead in victories with Esteban Loaiza of the Chicago White Sox.

He became the first Toronto pitcher to pitch 10 innings since John Cerutti on April 30, 1989. Halladay pitched his first shutout since June 7, 2002, against Colorado. He gave up consecutive singles to Warren Morris and Bobby Higginson in the ninth, but Dmitri Young hit into a double play.

“They swing early and if you can throw strikes you can get ground balls quick,” Halladay said.

Five years ago, Halladay no-hit Detroit for 8 2/3 innings before Higginson pinch hit and homered. Halladay admitted he thought about that game.

“It was one of those random thoughts that go through your head,” he said.