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THE CANADIAN PRESS

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TORONTO - Sometimes lost in the many trials and tribulations the Toronto Blue Jays have gone through in 2008 is just how remarkable a season Roy Halladay is enjoying.

The ace right-hander is so good, so consistently automatic whenever he takes the mound, that it can be easy for fans to take him for granted. Kind of like, "Halladay wins again, what else is new?"

But when you look at the numbers Halladay is in the midst of his best year since claiming the Cy Young Award in 2003, winning his fifth straight start in a 6-4 victory over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays yesterday.

Halladay (18-9) allowed three runs, only one earned, in seven outstanding innings as the Blue Jays (74-66) won their season-high sixth straight game and moved to eight games over .500 for the first time since finishing the '06 campaign 87-75. Lyle Overbay's two-run double in a three-run second and Alex Rios' solo shot in the third off Andy Sonnanstine (13-7) helped send the Rays (85-54) to their third loss in four games before a crowd of 32,477.

In other Major League Baseball action:

Phillies 3, Mets 0

At New York, Brett Myers buzzed through the Mets' lineup, pitching eight dominant innings and leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-0 victory Friday night that cut their NL East deficit to two games.

Reds 10, Cubs 2

At Cincinnati, Jay Bruce hit his first career grand slam and Toronto native Joey Votto added a two-run homer, an all-rookie power display that help the Reds beat Chicago on a day when nothing went right for the first-place Cubs.

Braves 10, Nationals 5

At Atlanta, rookie Brandon Jones' three-run double capped a seven-run third inning, and Kelly Johnson had three hits and two RBIs in the Braves' win over the Nationals.

Athletics 11, Orioles 2

At Baltimore, Rajai Davis' grand slam was the only Oakland hit in an eight-run eighth inning, and the Athletics topped the six-run barrier for the first time in 41 games.