Halladay Loses for First Time in Career to Twins

Roy Halladay had never lost a game against the Minnesota Twins, but that changed last night as Halladay was outpitched by Twins starter Carl Pavano.

Halladay pitched a complete game nine hitter, striking out nine and walking one.

Halladay’s problem on the night was the long ball, allowing home run shots to Twins shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Justin Morneau.

Halladay also allowed a ninth inning two run scoring double to Michael Cuddyer for the eventual 4-1 Blue Jays loss.

Halladay’s opposition Carl Pavano was excellent on the evening pitching 7.1 innings, allowing six hits, one earned run, while walking two and striking out five.

The only real problem Pavano had all night was in the fifth inning, when he allowed a triple to Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion to open the inning.

The Encarnacion triple was immediately followed by a run scoring double by Travis Snider, tying the game at that point.

That is as close as the Jays would come in this game, as after 7.1 innings pitched Pavano passed the ball along to reliever Jose Mijares and closer Joe Nathan who shutdown the Jays. Nathan received his 38th save of the season.

The Jays close out the four game set with the Twins today at 12:37pm with Twins starter Scott Baker pitching against Blue Jays rookie Brett Cecil. Cecil will be pitching in his final starting performance of the season.

In other Blue Jays news, regular second baseman Aaron Hill will not join the team until sometime throughout the weekend series against Detroit.

Speaking of which, I will personally be in Detroit this weekend for Friday night’s Jays contest between the American League Central leading Detroit Tigers.

In other baseball news, Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig’s all time Yankee hit mark on Wednesday. Jeter matched the Yankees record for hits with a seventh-inning single against Tampa Bay.

Jeter's third hit of the game gave him 2,721 in a Yankees uniform, tying a mark held by Gehrig for more than 70 years.

Jeter and the Yankees have an off day Thursday, but Jeter will get his chance at history on Friday at home against the Baltimore Orioles.