Closer B.J. Ryan is showing no ill effects from the "Tommy John" surgery that wiped out his 2007 season.
Although Ryan isn't throwing as hard as before, he has made progress since returning to the Jays on April 13. "His fastball has more life to it, it's finishing," catcher Rod Barajas said. "What I mean by that is (in) the last 10 feet, it seems like it picks up speed.
"And now those right-handed hitters who are looking for a fastball, when it comes out of his hand and they're attacking it, they end up being late because that last 10 feet (it hops) and seems like it picks up a couple miles per hour and now they're late on the fastball. It may not show on the scoreboard velocity-wise, but he's got a little bit more to him."
Ryan is also sharper with his control.
"His location is a lot better," Barajas said. "His breaking ball is down and with his fastball, he's hitting the glove and he's not giving right-handed hitters anything they can pull."
Ryan is 16-for-18 in save situations.
BLUE JAYS 2, MARINERS 0: RHP Roy Halladay tossed a four-hit shutout. It was the sixth complete game for Halladay (9-6) this season. 2B Marco Scutaro drove in the Jays' first run in the fifth, singling home SS David Eckstein, who had doubled. The Jays added a run in the sixth on a bases-loaded groundout by C Rod Barajas. It was the second consecutive shutout victory for the Jays, who blanked Atlanta 1-0 Sunday.
