Halladay

Roy Halladay struck out a career-high 14 to win his major league-leading ninth game, Alex Rios backed him with a home run and the host Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels, 6-4, on Tuesday night. Halladay (9-1) threw his second complete game of the season, allowing four runs, no walks and seven hits to win his sixth straight decision. Working on an extra day of rest, he threw a season-high 133 pitches. The right-hander, whose only defeat this season was an April 21 loss to the Texas Rangers, moved ahead of the Kansas City Royals' Zack Greinke for the major league lead in wins.

Toronto -Roy Halladay is a five-time All-Star, a one-time Cy Young Award recipient and a two-time 20-game winner, honors that a pitcher obviously doesn't earn from just dominating one team. But make no mistake, when it comes to being controlled by the Toronto Blue Jays' ace right-hander, the Orioles are in exclusive company. Halladay looked very ordinary against the Orioles for about the length of time it took Nick Markakis' two-run homer in the first inning to reach the right-field seats.

BAD DAY FOR BIRKINS Making his second career start, Kurt Birkins was unable to get an out. Birkins allowed hits to all six batters he faced before acting manager Tom Trebelhorn removed him. Birkins was credited with six runs, with Alex Rios hitting a two-run double, followed by a two-run homer from Frank Thomas. Birkins then allowed a single to Aaron Hill and a double to Matt Stairs, leading Trebelhorn to bring in Rob Bell. Bell allowed a two-run single to Gregg Zaun, giving Toronto seven consecutive hits to start the game, a club record.

His average down significantly since the All-Star break, Brandon Fahey also has sunk in the Orioles' batting order, going from second to eighth. Yesterday, it turned out to be a good spot for him, and the team. Fahey singled with one out in the sixth inning to end Toronto starter Roy Halladay's bid for a perfect game. Halladay had retired all 16 batters he faced before Fahey's ground ball scooted into center field. "It's great to see a guy like Fahey break up the no-hitter," shortstop Miguel Tejada said.

The Orioles had found a nifty formula in their four consecutive wins heading into yesterday - build an early lead against the other team's starter and coast home on a solid outing by their own. They seemed primed to test it again with their best pitcher, Erik Bedard, taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. But the Blue Jays threw a chaotic element into the equation in the form of their own ace and Cy Young contender, Roy Halladay. Halladay carried a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings and the Blue Jays hit Bedard harder than he has been hit in months to hand the Orioles a 9-2 loss before 23,639 at Camden Yards.

TORONTO -- It was the Toronto Blue Jays' three-run third inning, two of the runs scoring on a ball that never left the infield, that ultimately cost Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard the decision in his pitching duel with former Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. But the way at least one person in the visiting clubhouse saw it, the best starter on the Rogers Centre mound yesterday afternoon was the one that lost. "I feel [Bedard] out-pitched Halladay and got beat," said Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone, clearly annoyed by the events that led to a 4-3 loss, secured when former Orioles closer B.J. Ryan got the last five outs for Toronto in dominating fashion.

Toronto -- In fairness to Adam Loewen, he hasn't exactly enjoyed a charmed baseball life his first three weeks as a major leaguer. In his first start, he opposed Randy Johnson and the New York Yankees. Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays were his next two matchups, and the 22-year-old is tentatively scheduled to go up against another likely future Hall of Famer, New York Mets left-hander Tom Glavine, on Sunday. Orioles@Blue Jays Tonight, 7:07, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Orioles' Rodrigo Lopez (4-7, 6.51 ERA)

Toronto -- In fairness to Adam Loewen, he hasn't exactly enjoyed a semi-charmed baseball life in his first three weeks as a major leaguer. In his first start, he opposed Randy Johnson and the New York Yankees. Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays were his next two matchups, and the 22-year-old is tentatively scheduled to go up against another likely future Hall of Famer, New York Mets left-hander Tom Glavine, on Sunday. Loewen, of course, would have to remain in the Orioles' rotation, which now appears to be anything but a sure thing.

2983 Last night: 1-for-4 against Blue Jays with a home run Tonight: 7:07, vs. Blue Jays (Halladay 10-4)