The Tampa Bay Rays were 3-0 this season against Toronto's Roy Halladay. Just like every other team which had ever been in that situation against the right-hander, they didn't get the fourth win.
Halladay beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, and Vernon Wells homered and had three RBIs as the Blue Jays beat the AL East leaders 6-2 on Tuesday night.
``I honestly don't know how we beat him three times,'' Rays left fielder Eric Hinske said. ``He's probably the best pitcher in baseball. Tonight he had a good night.''
Halladay (16-9) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He had a 5.32 ERA in losing his previous three starts against Tampa Bay this year, nowhere near the 2.69 figure he has for the season.
``It's a team that can get you at any point, so you've got to kind of be on your toes,'' Halladay said. ``You can never get too comfortable. You've got to go out and still be aggressive. You can't change your game plan too much, but I think there's a point with teams like this that they're never out of it. It's a tough team to pitch again.''
Halladay struck out seven and is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his last five starts.
In other AL games on Tuesday, it was: Boston 7, New York 3; Chicago 8, Baltimore 3; Seattle 3, Minnesota 2; Los Angeles 5, Oakland 1; Cleveland 10, Detroit 4; and Texas 2, Kansas City 1.
Wells had two run-scoring singles and added a solo homer in the ninth. He his hitting .643 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last three games.
``When Doc is on the mound, you've just got to scratch out a few (runs) and you've got a chance to win,'' Wells said.
Rod Barajas hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of their last 13 road games.
Hinske drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, which lost consecutive games for just the second time since the All-Star break. Tampa Bay is an AL-best 47-19 at home this season.
The Rays' lead over second-place Boston in the division dropped to 3 1/2 games.
Rays starter James Shields (11-8) went 6 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. He had won six of his seven previous starts at home.
``Definitely the margin is slim,'' Shields said of facing Halladay. ``He's one of the premier pitchers in the league. I thought I pitched pretty well tonight, but when you're facing Halladay, you've got to be in your 'A' game.''
Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won in his return from the disabled list and Jason Bay drove in two runs for visiting Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
Johnny Damon homered twice for the Yankees, but Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-5 and grounded into two double plays - one with the bases loaded - and struck out for the game's final out.
Wakefield (8-8) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. Five relievers combined for four scoreless innings, and Jonathan Papelbon got four outs for his 34th save.
Andy Pettitte (13-10) was touched for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Gavin Floyd allowed four hits over eight innings for Chicago while Nick Swisher homered and Ken Griffey Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his 2,500th career game.
Orlando Cabrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the first-place White Sox, who have won eight of 10 to move a season-high 20 games over .500 (76-56). Chicago had nine extra-base hits, including a season high-tying seven doubles.
Floyd (14-6) allowed two runs, struck out four and walked one.
Luke Scott drove in two runs for the host Orioles, who lost their fifth straight.
Jose Lopez's single drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth and Roy Corcoran got his first career save for host Seattle.
The Twins lost their fourth in a row and fell two games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central, its largest deficit since play began on July 27. The Twins are 2 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL wild card.
Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. Corcoran pitched two scoreless innings for his first save in his 53rd career game.
John Lackey came within two outs of his first shutout of the season and Torii Hunter had three hits for host Los Angeles.
Lackey (11-2) gave up seven hits and struck out five without a walk. He lost the shutout bid to Jack Cust's 23rd home run. Lackey improved his career record against Oakland to 14-3 and won his 10th straight decision against AL West teams.
Greg Smith (6-13) gave up five runs and a career-worst 10 hits over six innings.
At Detroit, Cliff Lee got his league-leading 19th win and Ben Francisco hit two home runs in Cleveland's ninth straight victory.
Jamey Carroll and Kelly Shoppach hit back-to-back homers for the Indians, who overtook Detroit for third place in the AL Central.
Edgar Renteria hit a home run for the Tigers, who have dropped three straight.
Lee (19-2) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings to tie Brandon Webb of Arizona for the major league lead in wins.
Chris Lambert (0-1) gave up six runs - two earned - and five hits in 2 2-3 innings in his major league debut.
Kevin Millwood pitched his second straight complete game and both Texas runs were unearned.
The visiting Rangers went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, stranded 10 runners and grounded into a double play. The winning run scored in the eighth on an errant throw by catcher Miguel Olivo.
Millwood (8-7) allowed nine hits, including eight singles, struck out two and walked none. It was his third complete game this season and the 17th of his career.
The Royals have lost 16 of 19 and have been outscored 123-54 in that span to fall a season-worst 20 games below .500.
Ramon Ramirez (2-2) gave up an unearned run and three hits in two innings.
