Halladay Sparkles in Blue Jays’ Win

Roy Halladay looks like a contender for the Cy Young Award again.

Halladay pitched eight strong innings Saturday night to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 6-2, at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Halladay (7-1) gave up two runs and five hits. He is 6-0 in nine starts since being sidelined because of tightness in his right forearm in early April.

“Winning games is more important than anything else,” Halladay said.

Halladay, who won the American League Cy Young in 2003, struck out one. He hasn’t walked a batter in his last 23 2/3 innings.

“I hope we miss him next time,” Tampa Bay’s Julio Lugo said. “He’s in a Cy Young mode. Throwing everything for strikes. Throwing hard. Changing speeds.”

Toronto scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead. Pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto had a run-scoring double, and Alex Rios and Vernon Wells hit run-scoring singles against reliever Travis Harper. Harper replaced starter Mark Hendrickson (3-6), who departed with two on and one out.

“This year we know that we’re going to score runs and there isn’t a team out there that can keep us from scoring runs,” Catalanotto said. “It’s nice to be on a team like that. The offense never quits.”

The Devil Rays (22-34) have lost 10 of 12 to drop a season-worst 12 games under .500.

Seattle 12, Kansas City 1 -- Richie Sexson hit a pair of two-run homers and Adrian Beltre homered at Safeco Field for the first time this season, leading the Mariners to a rout of the Royals.

The two sluggers, who signed with Seattle for a combined $114 million before last season, homered in the same game for the first time this season.

New York 6, Baltimore 5 -- Johnny Damon homered against Chris Ray (1-2) to lead off the 10th inning at Baltimore, and the short-handed Yankees won for the seventh time in eight games.

The Yankees were without Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi, both out because of a stomach virus.

Detroit 6, Boston 2 -- Jeremy Bonderman (6-4) gave up two runs in 7 2/3 innings and Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in the Tigers’ victory at Detroit. Bonderman threw 29 pitches in the first inning, walked two and gave up Trot Nixon’s run-scoring double, then pulled it together. He gave up only three more hits and retired 13 batters in a row in the middle innings.

Oakland 2, Minnesota 1 -- Eric Chavez hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly to center in the seventh inning at Oakland to lift the Athletics to victory.

Oakland’s Brad Halsey (2-2) returned to the bullpen after filling in as a starter and got two outs for the win.

Chicago 8, Texas 6 -- Javier Vazquez (7-3) won his third in a row despite giving up 11 hits and five runs over 6 1/3 innings at Chicago. The White Sox had lost four in a row.