Roy Halladay threw a three-hitter with nine strikeouts, and Eric Hinske's two-run homer off Randy Johnson sent the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-0 victory over the punchless New York Yankees on Friday.
The Blue Jays won their fourth straight game and sent New York (9-14) to its third consecutive loss -- the Yankees have managed just two runs since Tuesday.
"For me, it's a challenge going against a team like this and an opposing pitcher like that. I look forward to it," Halladay said. "It was a special game for us."
Halladay (4-1) walked one in his seventh career shutout and 17th complete game, second this season.
Johnson (2-2) allowed seven hits in his 93rd complete game, first this year. He struck out nine and walked three in a game that lasted just 2 hours, 8 minutes.
"That was a classic pitching duel," Torre said. "We're not hitting, but you can't diminish what that kid did tonight. He was dynamite. He was in complete control of the game," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
Gregg Zaun drew a one-out walk from Johnson in the seventh inning, and Hinske -- the lone left-handed hitter in Toronto's lineup -- pulled an 0-2 pitch over the right-field fence for the only runs of the game.
Indians 6, Royals 0
In Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia pitched seven shutout innings in his first start since signing a two-year, US$17.75 million contract extension as Cleveland handed Hansas City its ninth straight loss.
Sabathia (2-0) had his third straight strong start since being activated from the disabled list on April 16. The left-hander was never in trouble in holding the staggering Royals (5-18) to three hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Kansas City has lost nine in a row for the first time since 2001.
Ben Broussard had three RBIs and Ronnie Belliard drove in two runs off Zack Greinke (0-2) for Cleveland.
Travis Hafner went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the offensively challenged Indians, who came in batting a major league-worst .226.
Orioles 5, Devil Rays 0
In Baltimore, Erik Bedard pitched five-hit ball for eighth innings to lead Baltimore over Tampa Bay for its season-high sixth straight victory.
Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella watched from the press box at Camden Yards as he began serving a three-game suspension for his team's involvement in two bench-clearing scuffles in a game against Boston on April 24. Bench coach John McLaren ran Tampa Bay.
Miguel Tejada, Jay Gibbons and Javy Lopez homered as Baltimore dealt the Devil Rays their season-worst fifth consecutive loss. Tampa Bay is 1-8 on the road.
Bedard (2-1) retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced, allowing only a two-out single to Nick Green in the third. Jorge Julio gave up a hit in the ninth but finished the Orioles' second shutout of the season.
Hideo Nomo (2-3) allowed five runs and eight hits, walked one and struck out three.
Rangers 7, Red Sox 2
In Arlington, Texas, Park Chan-ho limited Boston to just three hits over seven innings and Alfonso Soriano hit a tiebreaking two-run homer as Texas downed Boston.
Park (3-1) had a season-high seven strikeouts. Except for a rough fourth inning, the right-hander had little trouble against the World Series champions, who lost their third straight game.
Tim Wakefield (2-1) retired 12 in a row until David Dellucci led off the decisive sixth with a single. Dellucci scored on Hank Blalock's single to tie the game 2-all, and Soriano followed with his fifth homer.



