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Rios, Hill lead Blue Jays to win over slumping Yankees

May 30, 2007 - 6:07 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees struggles took on a new twist against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Aaron Hill stole home in seventh and Alex Rios hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-2 victory over the struggling Yankees on Tuesday.

Hill had two hits and recorded the first straight steal of home by a Blue Jays' player in six years, in helping them to their fifth straight home win.

For New York, it was their fifth straight loss, and 13th in the last 18 games.

"It seems like we're losing everyway possible, and tonight was no exception," Johnny Damon said.

Adam Lind led off the eighth with a double to left-center over Johnny Damon's head and was sacrificed to third by John McDonald. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (3-4) was then relieved by Scott Proctor, who allowed the sacrifice fly to Rios to medium center field.

"I just tried to get something out of the infield," Rios said.

Jeremy Accardo (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings for his first win of the season, as the Blue Jays have won each of the first three meetings with the Yankees this season.

New York failed to come up with the clutch hit, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

"Every at-bat, you get a walk to lead off an inning, you feel you may get something started, it just hasn't happened," New York manager Joe Torre said. "It certainly is not getting any easier for us. We just have to keep plugging."

Jason Giambi tied the game at 1-1 with his seventh homer of the season off Scott Downs.

The Yankees were frustrated by converted reliever Shaun Marcum up until that point. Marcum allowed just two hits in six innings with six strikeouts.

"I just wanted to go out there and throw the strikes, pound the zone and keep our team in the game," Marcum said. "With the line up like they got over there my goal was three runs or less and that would give our team a chance to win."

Marcum and Pettitte were engaged in a pitcher's duel for most of the game. Pettitte allowed an unearned run in the first and then threw six shutout innings before leaving in the eighth.

"Didn't pitch good enough, really, that's it," Pettitte said. "Went out there with a tie ballgame and couldn't get the leadoff hitter, and gave up a double."

The Blue Jays took the lead in amazing fashion in the seventh. Hill caught Pettitte and third baseman Alex Rodriguez sleeping with a straight steal of home.

The inning started with a single by Frank Thomas, followed by a single by Hill. Hill then advanced to third on Alex Rodriguez's throwing error.

Hill caught everyone by surprise by taking a walking lead and then darting home. Hill was half-way down the line when Pettitte was alerted by Jorge Posada, who jumped out to right and waved his arms.

However, it was too late as the 24-year-old second baseman slid in just ahead of the tag for a 2-1 lead.

Hill recorded the first straight steal of home since Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera accomplished the feat on July 2, 2006, and the first Blue Jay since Raul Mondesi had a straight steal of home against the Yankees on April 17, 2001. Shea Hillenbrand was the last player to steal home when he did so on August 6, 2005, also against New York.

Hill was quick to credit Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield for scouting Pettitte before the game.

"He told me if we get to a 1-1 count we're going to go ahead and try it. I started to get a little nervous, alright let's go, luckily it worked out."

Pettitte was still stunned about the play after the contest.

"I'm still trying to figure out how that can happen when I'm (working) out of the stretch," Pettitte said. "I don't know what else to say."

Jorge Posada tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth with an RBI single as the Yankees took advantage of a pair of errors.

The Yankees lost despite the best efforts from Pettitte, who is 65-30 following a Yankees' loss, allowed three runs - one earned - and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He pitched at least seven innings for the fifth straight start.