Sun Jul 6 00:23:46 2008

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Halladay puts a lid on Angels as Toronto hangs on to win

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Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Alex Rios went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs, while Vernon Wells clubbed a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays staved off a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 7-5, in the middle of a three-game set.

Roy Halladay (10-6) threw seven innings and yielded just two runs on six hits, while fanning seven and walking just one batter. Halladay has now won seven of his last eight decisions. Adam Lind was responsible for the other RBI for the Blue Jays, who had lost their previous three contests.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI for the Angels, who still boast a 4-2 record over their last six showdowns. John Lackey (6-2), who had won his last five starts, took the loss as he was touched for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits in six innings. The six frames is the shortest outing of the season for Lackey.

Lind and Joe Inglett singled and Marco Scutaro walked to load the bases with one out in the third inning. Rios then hit a two-run single and Wells reached on a fielding gaffe by Figgins, which scored Scutaro and made it 3-0.

LA inched closer, 3-2, in the fourth inning. Casey Kotchman led off the frame with a single and, after Maicer Izturis struck out, Guerrero belted a two-run homer to center.

Toronto got those two runs back in the fifth, as Scutaro hit a one-out double and Wells crushed a homer to left-center, making it a three-run game again.

The Blue Jays tacked on another run, 6-2, in the sixth. Lyle Overbay led off with a double, moved to third on Gregg Zaun's ground out and scored as Lind reached on a fielder's choice.

Justin Speier came on in relief of Lackey in the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Rios. Wells then popped out before Rios took second base. On ball four to Brad Wilkerson, Mike Napoli threw to third to catch a stealing Rios; the ball sailed into left field, allowing Rios to come around, and it was 7-2.

Scott Downs came in for Toronto in the eighth and was greeted by Chone Figgins clubbing a single; a wild pitch sent the runner to second. Kotchman grounded out, moving Figgins to third, before Izturis lined out. Guerrero belted a double to the gap in right and Figgins scored, making it 7-3.

BJ Ryan was on the hill trying to close it out for the Jays in the ninth, but issued a lead off walk to Garret Anderson. Gary Matthews, Jr. made it first and second with a liner up the middle, and Howie Kendrick kept it going with an RBI single that placed runners on the corners.

Napoli grounded into a double play, which allowed Matthews to score, but Figgins kept it going with a double to the gap in left. Kotchman then flied out to right to end the threat and the game.

Game Notes

LA committed four errors...Anaheim had won five of its seven 2008 meetings with Toronto prior to Saturday's setback...The Angels left six men on base, while the Blue Jays stranded seven.