Roy Halladay Strengthens Cy Young Bid as Blue Jays Defeat Red Sox

In a rematch from last week, Roy Halladay (14-9) was the victor over brand new Red Sox player Paul Byrd (7-11). The game ended in a 4-1 score.

Roy Halladay vastly out-pitched Byrd. Halladay threw his major league leading eighth complete game, giving up just one run on seven hits, one walk, and striking out four batters.

Halladay was able to silence the Red Sox hitters and only ran into trouble in the first couple of innings. After that the game seemed to be a breeze for him.

The complete game win strengthened Halladay's bid for his second career Cy Young as he lowered his ERA to a minuscule 2.64. He also has the lowest WHIP among starters, third most wins, second most strikeouts, most innings, most complete games, and most shutouts.

If that is not Cy Young worthy, then I don't know what is.

Halladay was within one inning of his third shutout of the season, but light hitting Dustin Pedroia managed to capitalize on Halladay's only mistake of the night, sending the ball over the green monster in the ninth inning.

However, it was too little too late for the Sox as Halladay managed to erase the next three batters with ease.

Paul Byrd managed to pitch well in his Red Sox, debut but it was not good enough to beat Roy Halladay for his second time this week.

Byrd finished with seven-and-one-third innings pitched. He gave up four runs on 10 hits. He did not walk or strike out any batters.

The Jays' offense came from Alex Rios (two-run home run in the first), Adam Lind (solo home run in the sixth), and Vernon Wells (RBI single in the eighth).

Up Next: Shaun Marcum (7-5) closes out the series against the Boston Red Sox as he faces Josh Beckett (11-8).