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Accardo gaffe, Cano hit give Yankees comeback win

Jul 18, 2007 - 4:24 AM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Robinson Cano took a big step toward trying to redeem a sub-par first half.

Cano hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning as the New York Yankees extended their winning streak to four games with a dramatic 3-2 victory Tuesday over the Toronto Blue Jays.

After batting .342 last season, Cano entered the All-Star break with a .274 average and is trying - like the rest of the team - to leave a shaky start to this season behind him. He wasted opportunities in this one, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and striking out with a pair of runners on in the eighth before getting another opportunity in the 10th.

Alex Rodriguez started the decisive inning when he took a curveball from Casey Janssen (2-2) off his left arm and went to second on a wild pitch that did not get far from catcher Gregg Zaun. After Hideki Matsui struck out, the Blue Jays intentionally walked Jorge Posada, and Cano blooped the next pitch from Janssen down the left field line to end the game.

"I was just looking for something that I could drive," Cano said. "It feels good, especially in a comeback game like that. It feels great to have the opportunity, but it feels much better because we won the game. It's a big game. We need to win every game."

"You don't want to hit the leadoff guy and start with your back against the wall," Janssen said. "They got their hits, nothing too special, but it cost us the game."

Cano became the latest player to pull off late-game heroics for the Yankees, who have won 10 of their last 13 games and five of six since the All-Star break.

Luis Vizcaino (6-2) tossed a scoreless 10th for the win, following a perfect ninth from Brian Bruney.

New York's offense struggled overall, stranding 12 runners behind a strong effort from starter Andy Pettitte, who yielded just one run and seven hits while striking out a season-high seven in seven innings.

"The last couple innings, I felt really strong," said Pettitte, who threw 116 pitches. "I would've loved to go back out there, but they aren't going to let me with that many pitches. I can't say I've felt that good late in a game so far this year."

Melky Cabrera had his second consecutive three-hit game to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games and Matsui's run reached 12 games for the Yankees, who managed just 10 hits - all singles.

Frank Thomas had three hits - including an RBI double off Pettitte in the first inning - before being lifted for a pinch runner for the Blue Jays, who also left 12 runners on base.

Kyle Farnsworth took over for Pettitte in the eighth and surrendered an RBI double by Aaron Hill after an errant pickoff throw allowed the go-ahead run to move into scoring position.

But the Yankees took advantage of a similar mistake in the ninth as Blue Jays closer Jeremy Accardo balked while facing Derek Jeter with runners on the corners and one out.

Accardo's miscue took a potential win away from Roy Halladay, who gave up just one run, five hits and three walks in seven innings.

"I've seen some crazy stuff, so I can't remember ever seeing (a balk in the ninth)," Halladay said. "But it's tough against that team with everything that's going on, 50,000 people. Emotions are going to happen sometimes. Hopefully, it's something we'll bounce back from, especially Jeremy."

Halladay allowed an RBI single by Rodriguez in the first inning and loaded the bases with two outs later in the frame before retiring 11 straight batters and 16 of 17. The righthander yielded a pair of singles in the seventh but retired Johnny Damon and Jeter to preserve a 1-1 tie.

"The first inning was kind of tough, but after that, I settled down and felt like my location was a lot better," he said. "I made some mistakes, obviously, but after that, I made some adjustments and settled down and gave us a chance."

The Yankees threatened again in the eighth, when Matsui and Posada hit consecutive two-out singles. But Toronto reliever Scott Downs struck out Cano to end the inning.

Accardo gave up a leadoff single by Andy Phillips in the ninth. Pinch runner Miguel Cairo stole second and attempted to score on Cabrera's single off the glove of first baseman Lyle Overbay.

But a strong throw by All-Star right fielder Alex Rios and a great play by catcher Gregg Zaun to block the plate prevented Cairo from knotting the game.

Cabrera went to second on the throw and stole third before Accardo's preoccupation with the runners led to his first balk of the season.