Halladay saga overshadows Jays' loss
David Huff may have had a tough start to his rookie season, but the left-hander is certainly showing the Cleveland Indians enough promise in recent weeks.
The rookie continued his fine play on Thursday afternoon, throwing 7 2/3 solid innings to help defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in front of 32,061 fans at the Rogers Centre.
The lowly Indians (38-58), last in the American League Central Division, took two of three games from the Blue Jays.
Huff allowed four runs, walked only one batter and struck out four.
The 24-year-old outpitched Toronto's first-year starter, Marc Rzepczynski, who lasted only 4 1/3 innings. Rzepczynski surrendered three runs and four walks while striking out six batters.
Halladay gives wish list
Toronto ace Roy Halladay gave the Blue Jays a list of teams he would agree to be traded to earlier in the season, general manager J.P. Ricciardi told reporters after the team’s 5-4 defeat Thursday to the Cleveland Indians.
While baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is set for 4 p.m. ET on July 31, Ricciardi has already spoken to potential suitors.
Teams that are reportedly interested in acquiring Halladay include the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.
"This has been a joint venture," said Ricciardi, who also admitted that Halladay would test the free-agent market once his contract runs out in 2010. "This hasn’t been [a situation] where we’re out there talking and Doc’s not included in the process."
Ricciardi wouldn't reveal the teams Halladay would agree to play for.
Halladay responded to Ricciardi's comments after Thursday’s loss.
"I'm not addressing it. I don't even know what he said. I'll [talk] after I pitch," stated Halladay, adding that he would comment on it after Friday night's home game against Tampa Bay. The contest could very well be Halladay’s last in a Blue Jay uniform.
Earlier this week, Ricciardi told reporters he wanted to complete a trade for Halladay, the former American League Cy Young Award winner, by July 28.
"We have to be wowed to make this trade," said Ricciardi. "If we're not wowed, then Roy is going to be a Blue Jay."
Halladay, 32, has a no-trade clause and is signed through next season, when he is slated to make $15.75 million US.
Halladay sports an 11-3 record this season, with an 2.73 earned-run average and four complete games in 18 starts.
Huff, now 5-4, improved to 4-0 in his last five starts away from Cleveland's Progressive Field. Right-fielder Shin-soo Chin tripled in the fifth to score two runs and snap a 1-1 tie, and the Indians never looked back.
"He pitched well," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said of Huff’s performance. "He changed speeds, got guys out with his changeup and he certainly pitched better than his ERA [6.39 would indicate]."
Rzepczynski was hoping to build off his impressive victory over the Boston Red Sox last Saturday, but a three-run fifth chased the rookie out of the game.
The Jays (47-49) failed to reach the .500 mark after winning three of their previous four games. Aaron Hill and Kevin Millar supplied most of the offence for the Blue Jays, smashing home runs in the fifth and eighth innings, respectively.
Tied 1-1, a key error by third baseman Jose Bautista allowed the Indians to take a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Bautista let a hot smash go through his legs, giving Cleveland runners on second and third with one only out. Choo then drilled his second triple of the season to left-centre field, lifting the Indians to a 3-1 lead.
Choo's triple ended Rzepczynski’s (1-2) afternoon.
He then scored when catcher Victor Martinez nailed a fielder's choice hop off Toronto reliever Shawn Camp.
The right-fielder scored when catcher Victor Martinez nailed a fielder's choice off Toronto reliever Shawn Camp. Rzepczynski, 23, allowed just one run in the fourth after loading the bases but used up a lot of energy to get out of the inning.
"For me today not being able to throw a fastball for strikes got to me," said Rzepczynski. "That fourth inning, where I threw a lot of pitches, cost me."
Hill brought the Jays back to within one in the bottom of the fifth, sending a two-run shot over the left-centre field wall for his 22nd home run of the season.
Another costly error by Camp then allowed catcher Chris Gimenez's grounder to score Ben Francisco for a 5-3 Cleveland advantage in the sixth, which was reduced to within one by Millar's fifth home run of the season in the eighth.
"We didn’t play good defence," said Gaston. "We pretty much gave it away. [If] we play defence we probably win the game. No one tries to make an error … it happens so you don't get upset with the person that made the error."
Indians reliever Kerry Wood began the ninth by hitting Alex Rios to the side of the head, but earned the save when he struck out Lyle Overbay to end the game.
Rios remained in the game and was stranded at third after stealing his second base of the inning. Gaston told reporters after the game that Rios would be fine.
The Blue Jays revealed more bad news for hard-luck right-handed Dustin McGowan prior to Thursday contest. McGowan recently underwent knee surgery on July 9 to repair cartilage damage on his left knee, which he hurt while doing some running in Dunedin, Fla., earlier this month.
The Georgia native is still recovering from last summer’s shoulder surgery on his right labrum.