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Blue Jays rally to edge Yankees

Aug 30, 2008 - 11:01 PM By Larry Fleisher PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Jose Bautista knew his defensive play was even bigger than his clutch hit. In the end, it might turn out to have even larger implications for the fading playoff hopes of the New York Yankees.

Bautista had a game-tying RBI single in the eighth inning and then started a key double play in the ninth as the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a four-run deficit and pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Yankees on Saturday afternoon.

Bautista had a pair of RBI singles during Toronto's comeback for his first two hits since being acquired from Pittsburgh. Joe Inglett also drove in two runs and Gregg Zaun's RBI groundout in the eighth completed the rally and scored Adam Lind with the go-ahead run.

The Blue Jays almost lost their comeback when closer B.J. Ryan allowed a leadoff single to Derek Jeter and walked Bobby Abreu to start the ninth. That brought up Alex Rodriguez, who has four hits in his last 21 at-bats.

Rodriguez fell behind 1-2, but worked the count full. On the verge of possibly giving the Yankees a dramatic win, Rodriguez hit a hard grounder to Bautista, who snagged the ball on his right before stepping on the third base bag and firing across the diamond to complete the double play.

"The defensive player was bigger," Bautista said. "I was trying to put my glove on it and do anything to prevent it from going into the outfield.

"I didn't feel like we had a chance to turn it. I gave it a shot at first and we got him."

Rodriguez said the play was unbelievable, and manager Joe Girardi referred to it as a bullet. It also seemed to deflate any hopes of a Yankee rally as on the very next pitch, Ryan retired Cody Ransom, a late-inning defensive replacement for first baseman Jason Giambi, with a fly ball to left field.

"I hit it hard," Rodriguez said. "He made an unbelievable play. I don't know how he made that play."

"The guy hit a bullet," Girardi said. "That's what you're taught to do, you're taught to hit the ball hard."

Bautista's brilliant double play enabled Ryan to earn his 25th save in 28 opportunities. It also sent the Yankees 6 1/2 games back in the American League wild card race behind the Boston Red Sox, who are hosting the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.

"We had the lead, 6-2 going into the seventh," Girardi said. "That's a game you should win."

Ransom was in the game because the Yankees were six outs from a victory. Consecutive solo home runs by Robinson Cano and Ivan Rodriguez in the fourth and two-run RBI double by Hideki Matsui restored their lead after a two-run homer by Vernon Wells tied it in the fourth.

Starter Darrell Rasner appeared to be cruising after Wells' home run as he retired eight of the next nine hitters. He allowed a leadoff single to Lind in the seventh but appeared to get the forceout at second.

"They were pretty lifeless until we made mistakes," New York center fielder Johnny Damon said. "They took advantage of it. This was a game that we needed to win. We let it slip away."

Instead no outs were recorded as Cano was charged with a fielding error when his flip attempt to shortstop Derek Jeter ended up in the dirt, putting runners on first and third.

"You just want to see a good throw," Girardi said. "However he can get it done. You have to make sure of one out."

"I think he just might have been too far away to make a shovel pass," Jeter said.

Rasner then gave up Bautista's first RBI single and walked Zaun to load the bases. Brian Bruney got the first out but gave up Inglett's two-run single and a leadoff single to Wells in the eighth that prompted Girardi to replace him with Damaso Marte (0-3).

Marte had runners at second and third after Lyle Overbay sacrificed. He was replaced by Edwar Ramirez, who gave up Bautista's single.

Zaun then gave Toronto its only lead with a slow grounder to third that prevented a double play and allowed Lind to score.

Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak and the comeback made a winner out of Brandon League (1-2), who struck out the side in the seventh.

"We have to win some games and spoil people," Overbay said. "It's nice to do something."