BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -Roy Halladay already has that opening day look.

The Blue Jays' 20-game winner was in start-of-the-season form, limiting the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run and four hits over seven innings of the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-1 victory on Friday night.

Brad Emaus backed Halladay's effective start with a wind-aided solo homer over the left field wall in the third inning and a run-scoring double in a two-run fifth against Virgil Vasquez. Travis Snider doubled and scored on Emaus' double and Alex Rios followed with a sacrifice fly.

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Halladay gave up Brad Hinske's double and Brandon Moss' run-scoring single in the second, then permitted only one hit over his final five innings - Brian Bixler's single in the fifth. He lowered his spring ERA to 3.67.

Halladay struck out four and didn't walk any in exactly the kind of start that enabled him to go 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA last season, his second 20-win season and his first since 2003.

Halladay has known since the beginning of spring training that he would start the Jays' April 6 opener against the Tigers.

In his previous start, Halladay gave up six runs and nine hits in a 9-7 loss to Houston last Saturday.

``Doc struggled a little bit the last two times out, but you know he's always going to bounce back,' manager Cito Gaston said. ``That's exactly what he did tonight.'

Vasquez, competing with Jeff Karstens to be the Pirates' No. 5 starter, gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings.

``I've showed them what I can do, showed them how I can work, but the results were not always there,' said Vasquez, who has a 7.62 ERA.

Vasquez is willing to go to the bullpen if that's where the Pirates believe he best fits.

``I know I can make the adjustments, have my body ready every day to pitch, whatever they need me to do,' said Vasquez, who pitched in the Tigers' system last season. ``Right now, it's about developing a feel for my pitches, but I got away from that in the middle (of spring training). I was nervous and I was trying to overthrow.'

Manager John Russell and the coaching staff met Friday to review the roster and starting rotation situation.

``We're not only looking at from the fifth starter point of view, but in terms of depth and a lot of other things,' Russell said.

B.J. Ryan and Brian Wolfe followed Halladay with a scoreless inning each. Each came in with ERAs above 10.00, and Ryan's velocity is down this spring.

``I was really encouraged by him,' Gaston said of Ryan. ``It was good to see him get out of that jam. It was a big confidence boost for him. One thing I like I about B.J., he never quits on you, especially when he gets in trouble.'

Notes: Sean Shoffit added a solo homer in the eighth off Pirates left-hander John Grabow. ... Grabow, who returned from pitching for the United States in the WBC earlier this week, has pitched in the last two Pirates games. ... On Saturday, Ian Snell makes his second start for the Pirates since pitching for Puerto Rico in the WBC. Snell gave up six runs and nine hits Sunday against a Reds lineup that didn't include any regulars. ... Pirates INF Andy Phillips (back) played five innings in a minor league game against the Yankees' Triple-A farm club. Pirates opening-day starter Paul Maholm also pitched in that game, allowing five runs - two earned - and five hits in seven innings on a windy day. Maholm threw 67 off 88 pitches for strikes and had a two-hitter going into the seventh. He worked in a minor league game because of the Pirates' day off Thursday. ... The Blue Jays released pitchers Mike Maroth and Rick Bauer. RHP Matt Clement, previously designated for assignment, agreed to report to Triple-A Las Vegas.