Yankees Beat Roy Halladay with Power

Toronto Blue Jay's starting pitcher Roy Halladay has owned the New York Yankees throughout his career. Halladay's record against the Bronx Bombers is 16-5, 2.90 in 32 career starts.

Pettitte Beats Halladay

Yesterday, however, Andy Pettitte of the Yankees hurled 6 2/3 innings for the 5-3 victory in Toronto. Mariano Rivera picked up his 31st save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Homers by Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Mark Teixeira

Anthony DiComo of mlb.com quotes Johnny Damon as stating, "He can throw 94, 95 miles per hour at any time. You just really don't know if it's going to cut or sink. Today, on that home run, he happened to hang a curveball. I was off balance and not where I wanted to be, but sometimes things work out." Damon and Mark Teixeira both homered in the eighth inning.

For Teixeira, the biggest name in the free agent market this offseason, it was his 27th home run.

Hideki Matsui also homered for New York.

A-Rod Contributes, Jeter Doesn't

Superstar Alex Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI. Leadoff man, Derek Jeter, the Yankee star shortstop was 0 for 4.

Halladay Had Been Pursued by Yanks and Others at Trade Deadline

Halladay, the 2003 American League Cy Young Award Winner, was frequently named in trade rumors just before the trade deadline on July 31. Some sources indicated that the Yankees might make a run at him. The Blue Jays were thought to be ready to cut salary because they were more than 10 games back in the American League East. Roy Halladay, 32, is in his 12th season for the Blue Jays. He has not played for any other team, which is highly unusual in this age of free agent movement between teams.

Halladay's career record is 142-70, with a 3.45 ERA, 1.198 WHIP, and 162 adjusted ERA. He has been an exceptional pitcher, but is expected to decline over the next few years, now that he has reached age 32.

The New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman was rumored to be pursuing Halladay before the trade deadline, but Cashman did not make any significant moves. It is still possible that he can make a waiver wire deal for a pitcher such as Bronson Arroyo or Zach Duke.

Sources:

Anthony DiComo, "Behind Pettitte, Yanks Solve Halladay," mlb.com.

"Roy Halladay Statistics and History," baseballreference.com.