Call goes against Sox, as does final result
TORONTO -- Roy Halladay's complete-game streak came to an end Sunday, but this time he did get the win for the Blue Jays … with what the White Sox felt was a little help from the umpires.
Lyle Overbay's sacrifice fly gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and the Blue Jays made it 4-0 in the third when a key call went against the White Sox in their 4-3 loss, making it a season-high 5 in a row.
Gregg Zaun opened the inning with a single and went to third on a double by Alex Rios.
Rios inexplicably strayed off the bag on David Eckstein's grounder to short and collided with Orlando Cabrera, who was incensed when second-base umpire Dale Scott ruled that Rios had not been tagged out on the play.
"From the dugout I thought Cabbie tagged the guy," said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who came out to argue the call. "The umpires are human. They're going to make mistakes, and that mistake cost us a couple of runs."
Rios denied that Cabrera had completed the double play.
"He didn't tag me with the glove," Rios said. "We just collided, but I don't think he ever tagged me."
Scott Rolen lined out to third before Matt Stairs doubled home Zaun and Rios, then scored on a single by Vernon Wells.
Jose Contreras pitched a complete game but took the loss, giving up 4 runs and 6 hits. He walked none and struck out five.
"We've been wasting a lot of good pitching on our side," Guillen said. "Our pitching staff is doing a tremendous job and we're not helping them win more games."
Contreras (2-3) has not won back-to-back starts since Sept. 19, 2007.
The White Sox have lost 8 of 11 to fall below .500 for the first time since they were 1-2. They have scored just 9 runs in the past five games and have the lowest team batting average in the American League at .232.
"It seemed like we had a little bit more life in the dugout. We were attacking really well," Guillen said. "That's the best game we've played in this bad week. The attitude was there, the fight was there. Hopefully tomorrow we go back out and continue to keep fighting."
Halladay (3-4) had thrown complete games in his previous 4 starts but lost the last 3. He lasted 7½ innings in this one, giving up 3 runs -- 1 earned -- and 3 hits. Halladay walked none and struck out seven.
Staked to a 4-0 lead after three innings, Halladay survived the Sox' 3-run fourth to get the win, saying pitching with a lead gave him a boost.
"It's a comfort level for the pitchers," Halladay said. "There's something about being on top. It's sometimes a little defeating when you're always pitching behind. It's nice to get those runs and get a little confidence."
Jesse Carlson replaced Halladay and finished the eighth, Jeremy Accardo got the first two outs of the ninth, and Scott Downs got the final out for his third save.
"It's never easy taking (Halladay) out, but you have to do what you think is right," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
Halladay last won April 12 at Texas, when he threw a 6-hitter. Toronto has won a season-high four straight after losing 8 of 9.
Halladay was perfect through the first three innings, but gave up 3 runs and 3 hits in the fourth. Nick Swisher led off with a double and Cabrera reached on Eckstein's throwing error. Jim Thome hit an RBI single, Paul Konerko followed with a run-scoring double and A.J. Pierzynksi capped the rally with an RBI grounder.
Blue Jays 5, White Sox 2
At the plate: The Sox were held to 4 hits, dropping their team average to an American League low .232. Jermaine Dye (0-for-4) has 1 hit in 20 at-bats since coming back from a groin strain. A.J. Pierzynski (0-for-4) is hitless in 12 at-bats in the series.
On the mound: Another strong start from Jose Contreras went for naught. The right-hander pitched 8 innings against the Jays, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. White Sox pitchers have allowed just 6 earned runs in the first three games of the series with Toronto, all losses.