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Buehrle outduels Halladay, White Sox edge Blue Jays

Jul 29, 2007 - 2:42 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- In his pitching duel against Roy Halladay, Mark Buehrle came out on top.

Buehrle pitched eight outstanding innings and rookie Jerry Owens broke a scoreless tie in the seventh with his first career home run as the Chicago White Sox posted a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was Buehrle's first start since leaving the team on Thursday to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, Braden.

This also was a rematch of a duel between Buehrle and Halladay nearly two months ago.

On May 31, Halladay bested Buehrle as Toronto won, 2-0. Buehrle threw a complete game and allowed only two hits, but they were solo homers by former Chicago slugger Frank Thomas and Aaron Hill. Halladay, meanwhile, scattered six hits over seven innings and struck out seven in a game that lasted just one hour, 50 minutes.

In this game which lasted two hours, seven minutes, the two top-line pitchers each allowed just seven hits into the seventh inning until Chicago broke through in the bottom of the frame.

"I have the same philosophy every game - win quick, lose quick," Buehrle said. "There is no reason to take your time out there."

With one out in the inning, rookie Danny Richar singled to left field before Owens hit the first pitch he saw from Halladay on a line that just cleared the right field fence inside the foul pole to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead.

"It's just, you know, indescribable," Owens said. "I mean, especially to do it in that situation and win the ballgame, that's what most important to me. To be honest with you, I tried to hit a hard ground ball through the three-quarter hole and happened to get under it. Thankfully it went out."

It was his 36th career hit and first homer. Playing in his first major league game, Richar recorded his first hit in the second on an infield single.

That was all Buehrle (8-6) needed. The lefthander, who threw a no-hitter vs. the Texas Rangers on April 18, was brilliant. He allowed eight hits and a walk while striking out six. Buehrle threw 107 pitches - 69 for strikes.

"Anytime you face a guy like Roy you have to be dominant to give your team a chance," Buehrle said.

Closer Bobby Jenks pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 30th save in 35 opportunities.

"When I was walking in the clubhouse after the game was over, I said that's a baseball game," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "No mistakes, great pitching, great defense on both sides. You're not going to see many of those. It was fun to watch."

Halladay (11-5) was almost as effective, yielding two runs, 10 hits and two walks in eight innings. The big righthander, who struck out seven, threw a season-high 126 pitches - 86 for strikes - for his fourth complete game of the year.

"Both pitchers were great," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We had some opportunities, but Buehrle is good. That's the kind of game you expect from Halladay and Buehrle."

Owens, Richar and Paul Konerko each had two hits for Chicago, which has won three straight.

Reed Johnson had three hits and Vernon Wells had two for the Blue Jays (51-52).