American LeagueRoy Halladay pitched a four-hitter and Bengie Molina and Alex Rios homered to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the struggling Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Monday.
The Angels have lost nine of 11. They managed just two hits in a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday.
"No disrespect to Halladay. He threw a great game, but we didn't try to get good at-bats," Orlando Cabrera said. "We didn't fight pitches or anything. We basically stunk today."
PHOTO: AP
Halladay (4-1) didn't allow a hit until Tommy Murphy led off the sixth with a double. One batter later, Cabrera hit a RBI single to cut the Toronto lead to 5-1.
Halladay improved to 3-0 in four starts since missing time due to a right forearm strain in mid-April, and he appeared to have a little more velocity on his pitches in his latest outing. The 2003 American League Cy Young winner struck out a season-high five and walked one for the 21st complete game of his career and the first of the season for Toronto.
"That's the strongest I've seen him this year," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We knew it was a matter of time because he felt fine. It was just a matter of building some arm strength and getting that cutter going."
Angels starter Jeff Weaver (1-5) didn't allow a hit until Lyle Overbay singled in the fifth. Eric Hinske followed with an RBI double to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. Shea Hillenbrand fouled out but Molina then hit a two-run homer, stomping on home plate when he scored against his former team.
Rios also had a two-run homer in the fifth to make it 5-0.
Weaver allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Rangers 6, Twins 4
At Arlington, Texas, Hank Blalock went 4-for-4 and John Koronka allowed seven hits in 6 1-3 innings for Texas.
Texas finished with 13 hits against three Minnesota pitchers.
Koronka (4-1) allowed three runs in his 10th major league start, seventh with the Rangers this season. He struck out one and walked two.
Akinori Otsuka allowed one run in the ninth and earned his fourth save in four chances.
Twins starter Brad Radke (3-4) had a rough outing, allowing six runs and 11 hits in five innings.
Luis Castillo had three RBIs for the Twins.
Royals 4, Indians 3
At Kansas City, Missouri, Doug Mientkiewicz drove in two runs and John Buck hit his first homer of the season for Kansas City.
Mike Wood (3-0) gave up three hits in 4 1-3 shutout innings in relief of Denny Bautista, who gave up four hits and two runs in three-plus innings in his first start since going on the disabled list April 14 with a sore right pectoral muscle.
Ambiorix Burgos got the last four outs for his fifth save.
Mientkiewicz gave the Royals a 2-1 lead in the first with a two-run single. Buck led off the fifth with a homer and went 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .217.
Paul Byrd (4-3) went seven innings, allowing nine hits and four runs, three earned, for Cleveland.
Mariners 6, Devil Rays 3
At Seattle, Jose Lopez had two hits and drove in three runs, and Seattle rallied to get the win in front of the smallest crowd in Safeco Field history.
Lopez singled home Ichiro Suzuki with Seattle's first run in the third and his two-run single in the seventh pulled Seattle even at 3-3. Gil Meche (2-2) allowed six hits and three runs in seven innings to get the win. J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities.
Chad Orvella (1-4) gave up three hits and three runs in 1 1-3 innings to pick up the loss.
Just 16,102 fans attended the game. The previous low was 17,613 on April 19, against Texas.
Jonny Gomes hit his 12th homer of the season for Tampa Bay.
National League
Jeff Francis had another strong start and Matt Holliday hit two homers to lead the Colorado Rockies to their fourth straight victory, 6-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Francis (2-2) allowed six hits, struck out one and walked three in 7 2-3 innings.
He had a scoreless streak of 14 2-3 innings snapped when Hector Luna singled home a run with two outs in the eighth.
"He's on a roll," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He was getting the leadoff hitter out. He was getting ahead on the counts. When you can get to the eighth inning with 100 pitches, that's good for him. He's never going to be a dart thrower."
Holliday was 3-for-4 and scored three runs. He hit both homers leading off innings against Cardinals starter Jason Marquis (3-4) and has nine this season.
"He's hot," Hurdle said. "Certifiable hot."
Brad Hawpe singled twice and drove in three runs for the Rockies (20-13), who moved seven games over .500 for the first time since July 2000, when they were 45-38.
Marquis, who has lost his last four decisions, gave up 10 hits and six runs in six innings.
Giants 7, Astros 5
At San Francisco, Pedro Feliz hit a two-run homer and singled in a run to help San Francisco snap a four-game losing streak.
Noah Lowry (1-0) returned from the disabled list and pitched seven strong innings for the victory in his first outing since straining a muscle in his right side April 6 against Atlanta.
Giants slugger Barry Bonds rested following a cross-country flight from Philadelphia, where he hit career home run No. 713 on Sunday to pull within one of tying Babe Ruth for second place on the career list.
Roy Oswalt (5-2) gave up 10 hits and seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.
Padres 8, Cubs 3
At San Diego, Mike Cameron had three RBIs, Khalil Greene homered and San Diego won its ninth straight game.
Dave Roberts had three hits, three stolen bases and scored four runs, while Cameron and Brian Giles each finished with three hits and three RBIs for San Diego.
The Padres roughed up Chicago starter Greg Maddux (5-2), who allowed nine hits and seven runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Chris Young (3-2) gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings to get the win.
San Diego native Jacque Jones homered for the Cubs, who have lost seven straight.
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