Yankees solve Halladay, top Blue Jays

TORONTO -- Even though the New York Yankees finally were able to hit Roy Halladay, they still don't enjoy facing the Toronto ace.

Andy Pettitte won for the first time in six starts, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui hit solo shots off Halladay, and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 5-3 on Tuesday.

"He's no fun to face," shortstop Derek Jeter said of Halladay. "The only way you're going to beat him is you've got to get a great start from our staff, and Andy did that."

Pettitte (9-6), who had not won since July 1, allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out six. He left with runners at first and second in the seventh, but Phil Hughes came on and struck out Jose Bautista to end the threat.

"I was getting a little tired," Pettitte said. "It was good that Phil came in and got me out of that."

Hughes gave up two singles to begin the eighth, then struck out two batters before being replaced by Mariano Rivera. Vernon Wells greeted the Yankees closer with a two-run double off the wall in left, cutting the deficit to 4-3, but Rivera got out of the inning when Alex Rios grounded to short.

Matsui gave New York some insurance by homering to center on Halladay's first pitch of the ninth.

It's the second time this season Halladay has allowed three homers to the Yankees. He also gave up three in a 6-5, 12-inning loss at New York on July 4.

"To me, he's still the best pitcher in the league," Damon said. "Fortunately we've gotten him the last two times."

Rivera allowed two singles in the ninth, but Aaron Hill flied out to end the game, giving the closer his 31st save in 32 chances.

Halladay (11-5) lost back-to-back starts for the first time this season, allowing four earned runs and 10 hits in his fifth complete game. The right-hander, who walked none and struck out five, has won just once in seven starts since coming off the disabled list June 29 after missing two turns with a sore groin.

The subject of intense trade talk leading to July 31, Halladay got a warm welcome from Toronto fans happy to see him still wearing a Blue Jays uniform beyond the nonwaiver trade deadline. For the third straight home start, he got a standing ovation as he walked in from the bullpen before the game.

Halladay declined to discuss his feelings about staying with Toronto past the deadline and was blunt when asked about his goals for the remainder of the season.

"Win," Halladay said. "That's the reason you're here. I don't think at any point you can pack it in and work on things. You have to come out every day to try and win."

Halladay came in 8-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his past 10 home starts against the Yankees but was behind quickly as New York scored twice in the first.

"Getting those two in the first inning was huge for us because it let Pettitte go out there and just relax and do his thing," Damon said.