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SAN FRANCISCO -- J.A. Happ was the losing pitcher on the night San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain threw a perfect game on June 13, 2012. "I actually owed him one," Happ happily declared Tuesday night after scattering six hits over 8 2/3 innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-0 interleague win over Cain and the Giants.
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Troy Tulowitzki had a hand in all four Toronto runs. He hit a solo home run and a sacrifice fly, and he added an RBI double, after which he scored on a Russell Martin single.
The win was the Blue Jays' 14th in their last 21 games against National League competition, and it evened the all-time series with the Giants at 9-9.
Happ (5-0) gave up three singles to Giants shortstop Kelby Tomlinson, including one in the eighth inning when San Francisco put the potential tying run on base with just one out, down 2-0.
The left-hander then struck out pinch hitter Trevor Brown and got Denard Span to fly to left field, stranding runners at first and third.
"He's a pleasure to watch," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's a pitcher now, not a thrower."
Happ, in his first year with the Blue Jays, got within one out of a complete game, but he was pulled after giving up a two-out single to Hunter Pence and a walk to Brandon Belt in the ninth.
"That's disappointing. That would have been a lot of fun," said Happ, who walked three and struck out five in his 111-pitch effort. "I'll take that (result), obviously."
Toronto closer Roberto Osuna walked Matt Duffy to load the bases, then struck out Jarrett Parker to earn his eighth save and second in two nights.
The Blue Jays opened the three-game series with a 3-1 win Monday night.
The combined shutout was Happ's first since June 26, 2014, a game in which he went the first 7 2/3 innings in a 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The 33-year-old has now allowed three or fewer runs in 17 consecutive starts, the second-longest active streak in the majors to the Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta's 27.
Happ had to be at his best to get the better of Cain, who pitched his best game of the season.
"He was good tonight, too," Happ said. "It was good to get that one."
Tulowitzki's homer opened the scoring in the second inning. It was his sixth of the season, and also his career sixth against Cain.
Toronto increased its lead to 2-0 in the seventh after a one-out triple by Michael Saunders. He raced home on Tulowitzki's sacrifice fly to center.
Cain (0-5) was pulled after eight innings, having allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
"I felt like I limited my mistakes," said Cain, who entered the game with a 7.84 ERA. "This is something to build off of."
Despite the quality start, Cain saw his record fall to 0-5 for the first time in his career, and he walked off the mound winless for a 14th consecutive start. He is 0-8 in those outings.
It was the fourth time in Cain's seven starts this season that the Giants supported him with one run or fewer while he was on the mound.
"He threw the ball great," said Giants catcher Buster Posey, who went 0-for-4. "I hated to spoil this for all of us, and him, too."
The Blue Jays added two insurance runs in the ninth off Giants reliever Derek Law.
Tulowitzki doubled home Saunders, who had singled, to make it 3-0. Martin then followed with his run-scoring hit, scoring Tulowitzki.
Saunders finished with three of Toronto's nine hits. He and Tulowitzki each scored twice.
The Giants, who lost their third in a row, have scored just three runs in their past four games, and they haven't scored at all in the first nine innings of their past three outings.
NOTES: Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ has not thrown a complete game since Aug. 30, 2010, against St. Louis. ... Happ's ERA fell from 2.50 to 2.05. ... Happ retired Giants C Buster Posey twice with a runner aboard. Posey is now hitless in his past 18 at-bats. ... The Blue Jays learned earlier in the day that their second-round pick in 2013, RHP Clinton Hollon of Class A Lansing, was suspended 50 games for violation of Major League Baseball's drug policy. It was the second positive test of Hollon's fledgling career.
