Twins drop 5th straight

TORONTO (AP) -- Roy Halladay didn't let a demotion to Class A derail his career.

Halladay pitched eight strong innings to win for the first time in more than a year as the Toronto Blue Jays handed the Minnesota Twins their fifth straight loss, 3-1 Wednesday night.

Halladay began the season with Dunedin of the Florida State League, but has a 2.98 ERA in five starts since being called up from the minors.

"It takes awhile to get over being there, but once you do, you come out better," Halladay said. "It's definitely a character builder. It's been a long road, but the things I've learned along the way are going to help me the rest of my career."

Brad Fullmer went 3-for-3 with a home run, and Carlos Delgado also homered for the Blue Jays.

The Twins, who matched their longest losing streak of the season, have dropped 14 of 17. Minnesota fell 1 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Cleveland.

The Twins have scored three runs or fewer in nine of 12 games.

"Our offense is terrible," Doug Mientkiewicz said. "We have to step up because we're not getting the job done."

Halladay (1-1), considered a top prospect before struggling last season, allowed just one run and six hits to win for the first time since July 16, 2000, against the New York Mets. He threw only 85 pitches.

"There's still a long way to go," Halladay said. "There are a lot of things that I haven't done that I want to do. There are still things I want to correct."

The 24-year-old right-hander, who changed his mechanics from an over-the-top delivery to a three-quarter angle, struck out two and walked one.

"Doc's got big-time stuff, and now he's harnessing his physical talents," Toronto manager Buck Martinez said.

"I couldn't be more proud of what Roy has done. It's a real wakeup call to be sent down to A-ball, and for him to go down with the right attitude and make up his mind that he was going to work his way back to the big leagues, to see the end product is pretty impressive."

Mientkiewicz was impressed with Halladay, who he's seen since Double-A.

"When Halladay gets the ball down, he's tough. When he gets the ball up he gets hit," Mientkiewicz said. "He's got electric stuff. Once he learns to harness it he's going to be one of the better guys in the American League."

Billy Koch pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 25 opportunities

Delgado's 29th homer, off the top of Windows restaurant in center field, gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second against Kyle Lohse (3-4).

After Shannon Stewart doubled in the fourth and moved to third on a grounder, Raul Mondesi's sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

David Ortiz hit an RBI double for the Twins in the seventh, but Fullmer led off the bottom half with his 12th homer.

Lohse lost his fourth straight start despite allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings.

"I just have to do a better job of getting the first out in each inning," he said. "Their leadoff hitters hurt me."

Notes: Minnesota RHP Rick Reed, acquired from the Mets for outfielder Matt Lawton on Monday, was scheduled to start Thursday in the series finale. ... The Twins have won just two series since the All-Star break. ... The Twins are 21-44 at SkyDome. ... The Blue Jays activated 2B Homer Bush.