Halladay's 3-hitter leads Jays over Boston 12-0
The Red Sox started only two regulars after clinching the AL wild card late Tuesday night. They were hitless until Joey Gathright's clean single to left with one out in the sixth. Rocco Baldelli singled in the seventh and Gathright added an infield single in the eighth.
One night earlier, Boston lost 8-7 to Toronto but locked up a postseason berth less than three hours later when Texas lost to the Los Angeles Angels. The Red Sox celebrated in their clubhouse deep into the night.
The Blue Jays hit four homers -- two by Randy Ruiz and one each by Lyle Overbay and Jose Bautista -- one day after hitting six. They have 46 in September, two shy of the team record for any month set in June 2000. Halladay (17-10) had a strong outing in what might be his last game for the Blue Jays. They entertained offers for him at the trade deadline but held onto him. He has one year left on his contract and could be traded in the offseason, although he'd have to agree to a deal.
Five days after blanking Seattle on seven hits, Halladay pitched his fourth shutout this season and ninth complete game, both major league highs. He struck out six, walked two and hit designated hitter David Ortiz with a pitch. Boston's other regular in the lineup was shortstop Alex Gonzalez, and he came out after six innings even though he wasn't hurt.
Boston catcher Dusty Brown made his first major league pitching appearance in the ninth and allowed one run. Two other Red Sox position players, outfielder Jonathan Van Every and shortstop Nick Green, pitched this year.
Toronto won its season-high sixth straight game, while Boston matched its longest losing streak since Aug. 4-9 when it lost two games to Tampa Bay and four to the New York Yankees.
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead in the second on a run-scoring groundout by Bautista and an RBI single by Aaron Hill. They made it 5-0 in the third on Overbay's two-run homer, his 16th of the year, and Ruiz's solo shot.
Tim Wakefield (11-5) left after three innings and fell to 7-1 at Fenway Park.
Fernando Cabrera allowed the first three batters to reach base in the fifth, including John McDonald, who singled in a run. Dustin Richardson then gave up Bautista's sacrifice fly and Hill's RBI single that made it 8-0.
NOTES -- Rocco Baldelli made his first infield appearance in the majors when he moved from right field to third base in the top of the seventh for the Red Sox. ... Halladay improved to 6-9 at Fenway Park.