The Toronto Blue Jays started the second half of the season with a series win over the American League East leading Boston Red Sox this past weekend at the Rogers Centre (Skydome).

Friday night the Jays sent possible American League Rookie of the Year candidate Ricky Romero to the mound to square off against Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.

Buchholz made his first Major League start of the 2009 season on Friday.

Buchholz was outstanding in his first appearance of the season, pitching five and two thirds innings, holding the Jays offense to one earned run, and four hits.

Romero, unbeaten in his last seven starts for Toronto, only lasted four and a third innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs, walking five and striking out eight.

Romero gave up a two run homer in the top of the first inning to Red Sox slugger Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox never looked back afterwards.

The bullpens were outstanding for both teams, both giving up zero earned runs, and in the end the Red Sox came out on top of the series opening game 4-1.

Lyle Overbay had three of Toronto’s five hits, and Alex Rios accounted for Toronto’s only run batted in, with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning.

One major highlight from the game included an amazing diving catch from left fielder David Dellucci, in the top of the seventh inning.

Blue Jays centre fielder Vernon Wells was absent from the starting lineup with a stomach virus.

Marc Rzepczynski earned his first Major League win Saturday afternoon against Boston.

Saturday, the Jays were a different story.

Rookie left hander Marc Rzepczynski (ZEP-CHIN-SKI) battled with Boston right hander Brad Penny.

Rzepczynski was victorious behind an explosion of Blue Jays offense, claiming his first career Major League victory, in a 6-2 Toronto win.

Rzepczynski’s final pitching line: 6IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 4K

The Jays offense scored all six runs off of Boston starter Brad Penny. Penny’s final pitching line: 5IP, 8H, 6R, 6ER, 1BB, 3K

The Jays offense was led by Adam Lind (1-4, 1HR, 2RBI), Scott Rolen (2-3, 2 runs scored) and Lyle Overbay (2-4, 1 run scored).

Lind hit his twentieth home run of the season, a career high.

The Toronto bullpen is starting to take form.

The Jays bullpen combination of Jesse Carlson, Jeremy Accardo, Jason Frasor, and Scott Downs gave up only two hits and one earned run over three innings of work in Saturday’s game locking it down for starter Marc Rzepczynski.

David Dellucci and Vernon Wells both missed action on Saturday.

Wells with his continued stomach virus and Dellucci who injured his left foot in Friday’s game against Boston.

X-rays were completed on Dellucci and came back negative. Dellucci is listed as day to day.

Did Roy Halladay make his last start in a Jays uniform at Rogers Centre Sunday?

Finally, on Sunday afternoon, the Jays sent their ace Roy Halladay to the mound in what could have possibly been his last start in Toronto.

Halladay, a source of trade speculation worldwide, had numerous scouts and general managers from different Major League teams, most notably Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Boston, and the Chicago White Sox in attendance to view his start.

Halladay did not disappoint them, or the 36,534 fans in attendance.

Halladay pitched his 45th career complete game, pitching nine innings, giving up one earned run, six hits, walking none and striking out seven, for his 11th win of the season.

Halladay outpitched Boston left hander Jon Lester, who pitched a fairly decent game. Lester’s final pitching line: 7IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 6K.

It was the Rod Barajas show offensively as Barajas was two for three, with three runs batted in.

Alex Rios contributed, going two for three with a walk, and one run scored.

Lyle Overbay also had a decent day. Overbay was one for three, with a walk and two runs scored.

Again, both Vernon Wells (stomach virus) and David Dellucci (foot) missed action.

Wells is expected back into the lineup Tuesday against Cleveland.

With the series win, the Jays improved their record to 46-47, and currently sit fourth in the American League East, five games back of the Rays and nine and a half games back of Boston and New York.

The Jays had an off day on Monday and will begin a three game series with Cleveland tonight at the Rogers Centre (Skydome).

Rookie Brett Cecil will do battle with 2008 Cy Young Award Winner Cliff Lee, in a duel of left handed pitchers.

Please also note that Brian Tallet, reliever turned starter, has now been shipped back to his long relief role in the bullpen, as Toronto will go with a four man rotation.

Also, the Roy Halladay trade speculation has only gotten more interesting.

I reported that Philadelphia and St.Louis were stop suitors here: http://bluejays.gearupforsports.com/blog/2009/07/the-halladay-controversy-continues/

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported earlier this week in his video series titled “Full Count: Brew Jay?” that the Milwaukee Brewers were interested in acquiring Halladay for a package headed by shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar.

You can view the video under the video section at: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb

It’s been a pretty wild start to the second half for the Blue Jays and with the trade deadline slowly approaching (only ten days away), Toronto fans can only expect things to get even more exciting.

Don’t forget to check out my interview with Josh Pacheco of ESPN Radio Hawaii for all kinds of Toronto Blue Jays news, click here for details: http://bluejays.gearupforsports.com/blog/2009/07/espn-hawaii-feature-up-now/