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Halladay helps Blue Jays snap skid

Jun 8, 2008 - 9:59 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, the Toronto Blue Jays turned to their ace, and he delivered.

Roy Halladay pitched 7 2/3 solid innings Sunday, leading the Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Halladay (8-5) surrendered four runs and eight hits, striking out seven without a walk as he continued his dominance against Baltimore, earning his seventh straight winning decision against the Orioles - a streak that dates to May 2005.

"It was a game we needed to win," Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells said. "You never like getting swept and you obviously never like getting swept at home. We've had some tough losses, they've been hard to watch from afar. It was a good win today."

Scott Downs got the final out of the eighth inning, and B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save. The closer had blown his past two save opportunities.

"To get out there and finish it off was good," Ryan said. "It was well-needed right now."

Marco Scutaro broke a 4-4 tie with a sacrifice fly in a three-run sixth inning for the Blue Jays.

"The difference in the game was they put zeros up after they scored and we didn't," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

Wells, in his second game back since returning from a fractured wrist, opened the scoring in the sixth with his sixth home run of the season. He finished with three hits and scored twice.

Rod Barajas added a run-scoring double in the sixth for Toronto (33-32), which moved back over the .500 mark.

"To be able to have a game like today where we did battle back, we did overcome some things, is good for us," Halladay said. "Hopefully, it can carry us forward."

Luke Scott smacked two homers for the Orioles, including a two-run shot off Halladay in the top of the sixth that gave Baltimore a 4-2 lead. He also hit a solo shot off Halladay in the second.

Matt Albers (3-2) surrendered all three runs in his lone inning of work to take the loss.

"They took advantage of (Albers') inexperience there," Trembley said. "He got distracted with some base runners and really changed his tempo. When he changed his tempo, I thought his delivery got out of sync."

Radhames Liz started for Baltimore and pitched five innings, allowing two runs and four hits.