Halladay, Blue Jays best M’s

SEATTLE – Roy Halladay pitched his 10th career shutout, dominating the Seattle Mariners and limiting them to just four singles in Toronto’s 2-0 victory on Monday night, the Blue Jays’ third straight win.

Methodically controlling his pitch count, Halladay mowed through the Mariners lineup, allowing a pair of singles to Richie Sexson, and a hit each to Willie Bloomquist and Jeremy Reed. The only other Seattle batter to reach base against Toronto’s ace was Ichiro Suzuki, who beat out a potential double play in the third and reached on an error in the sixth.

It was the seventh inning before a Seattle batter reached second base, and Halladay (9-6) won for the first time since June 8, throwing his sixth complete game of the season. Halladay’s last complete-game shutout was June 22, 2007, an 8-0 three-hitter against the Mariners.

Unlike his last shutout, Halladay didn’t get much offensive help, but the Blue Jays had just enough clutch hitting against Mariners starter R.A. Dickey.

David Eckstein ripped a two-out double into the left-field corner in the fifth. Marco Scutaro, who hit the ball hard in his first two at-bats, then followed with a sharp single to center, easily scoring the speedy Eckstein from second.

In the sixth, Vernon Wells led off with a single and Scott Rolen added a one-out single, his third hit of the night. Rolen is 7 for 14 in his last four games.

Lyle Overbay then walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. With a 1-1 count, Rod Barajas tapped a slow grounder to shortstop and Bloomquist’s only play was to first, allowing Wells to score for a 2-0 cushion.

Seattle’s best chance came in the seventh, but Halladay relied on the strikeout to escape the jam. Reed dumped a one-out single and brazenly advanced to third on Sexson’s single into left, putting runners at the corners – the first time Seattle had two base runners in an inning.

Halladay then calmly struck out rookie Jeff Clement looking and induced a slow grounder from Kenji Johjima to end the inning.

Hernandez on DL

The Mariners placed Felix Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list, deciding the best treatment for his sprained left ankle was a few more days of rest.

Hernandez is eligible to come off the disabled list July 8.

Hernandez, 6-5 with a 2.83 ERA, was injured June 23 against the New York Mets.

Reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith will make his first major league start tonight.