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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Roy Halladay made a triumphant return to the majors.
|  | | Carlos Delgado, left, receives congratulations from Tony Batista after hitting his 26th HR. |
Carlos Delgado hit his AL-leading 26th homer Saturday and Halladay won his first start since being recalled from the minors
as the Toronto Blue Jays won their fourth straight, 6-4 over the
Boston Red Sox.
"I'm just happy to be back," Halladay said. "I don't think I
ever doubted my ability, but you always question it and look for
answers. That's what got me in trouble. I was getting away from
what I normally do."
Halladay (3-4), sent to the minors May 17 and brought up before
the game, allowed all four runs and six hits in seven-plus innings.
He struck out five and walked two, leaving with a 5-2 lead in
the eighth after consecutive singles by Jeff Frye and Carl Everett.
Nomar Garciaparra, the AL batting leader at .392, followed with
an RBI grounder off Paul Quantrill. Brian Daubach struck out, and Jason Varitek hit an RBI single to make it 5-4.
Brad Fullmer homered in the bottom half off Rheal Cormier, and Billy Koch pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.
"That was a good win for Roy and us," catcher Alberto Castillo
said. "He gained his confidence back, and if we have Halladay
giving us seven strong innings than that's great for us. The
Yankees are falling apart because of pitching."
Brian Rose (3-5), winless in six starts since May 14 against
Baltimore, gave up four runs and three hits in 2 2-3 innings as the
Red Sox lost for the sixth time in their last eight games against
Toronto.
"They're just playing good baseball," Boston manager Jimy
Williams said.
Williams defended his decision to yank Rose early.
"We keep giving him the ball. That should tell him something,"
the manager said. "I don't think you should ever doubt your
ability when you play at the major league level. It's the highest
level."
Halladay went 1-1 with a 4.84 ERA in five starts for Triple-A
Syracuse. He picked up his first win in the majors since April 20.
"This gives him a lot of confidence," Delgado said. "He went
down and got his work done, and they threw him right into the fire
today. This was a great test, and he came out ahead."
Delgado hit a two-run homer in the first, and Alex Gonzalez hit
a go-ahead, two-run homer in the third for the first-place Blue
Jays, who have homered in a club-record 22 straight games, three
short of the major league mark.
The Blue Jays, who have won six straight series, have a chance
to sweep Boston on Sunday. Pedro Martinez (9-3) faces Chris
Carpenter (6-6).
Toronto leads the Yankees by a half-game and Boston by 1½ games.
"It's a good feeling to have the other teams chasing us," Fullmer said.
Delgado's homer put Toronto ahead 2-0 in the first, but
Garciaparra homered in the second and Everett had a two-out RBI
single in the third. Gonzalez's third-inning homer made it 4-2.
After consecutive infield singles by Gonzalez, and Raul Mondesi
in the fifth, Delgado hit an RBI single.
Game notes
Gonzalez left after the fifth with a strained right groin
strain. He's day to day. ... Trot Nixon is day to day with
tightness in his right hamstring. Nixon injured the leg while
sliding into first base during Friday's night game. ... The Blue
Jays lead the AL with 125 homers. ... Delgado extended his hitting
streak to 18 games. ... Halladay retired 12 of 14 at one point. ...
The Blue Jays have won 13 of their last 18. ... The Red Sox fell to
third place for the first time since May 2.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 8
Detroit 1
Detroit 14
Cleveland 8
(2nd game)
NY Yankees 12
Chi. White Sox 8
Kansas City 8
Oakland 3
Toronto 6
Boston 4
Seattle 2
Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 9
Texas 7
Minnesota 11
Anaheim 5
St. Louis 6
Los Angeles 1
Philadelphia 8
Montreal 1
San Francisco 13
Houston 4
Cincinnati 11
San Diego 5
Florida 7
Chicago Cubs 4
Milwaukee 2
Atlanta 1
NY Mets 10
Pittsburgh 8
Colorado 4
Arizona 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Carlos Delgado wants to continue to learn and play hard.
wav: 190 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Alex Gonzalez hopes Toronto can ride its momentum to a division title.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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