• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Abreu belts 10th-inning grand slam to lift Yankees

Sep 25, 2008 - 4:09 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- While Bobby Abreu was the hero for the New York Yankees, rookie Phil Hughes made the biggest impression.

Abreu snapped a 10th-inning tie with a grand slam that lifted the Yankees to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Hughes hurled a career-high eight strong innings for New York, which has won seven straight games but was eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday.

The Yankees, who closed down their 85-year-old ballpark Sunday night, missed the playoffs for the first time since the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. They continued their meaningless surge Wednesday, posting their 11th win in 14 games.

Juan Miranda started the 10th with a double off Jesse Carlson (7-2). After Chad Moeller walked, Brett Gardner advanced both runners with a stellar bunt toward third base. Carlson then hit Robinson Cano to load the bases.

Abreu, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts entering the final frame, then deposited a towering blast over the right-field wall - just out of the reach of a leaping Alex Rios. Abreu has 20 homers and 99 RBI this season.

"The last at-bat I don't really look for a home run at that time," said Abreu, who recorded 20 homers and 20 steals for the eighth straight season. "Just want to put the ball in play and it happened ... hit a home run. It was a good thing; it was my day."

Hughes, who still is in search of his first win this campaign, allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six without a walk. He was on his way to a triumph until Scott Rolen belted a solo shot in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

A 22-year-old homegrown righthander, Hughes was supposed to be a key cog in New York's rotation this season but has spent most of the campaign on the disabled list or in the minor leagues. The Yankees are hoping he can take some confidence from September into next season.

"My last outing I really didn't get an opportunity to throw too many of (curveballs), but the last two starts in the minor leagues it was just as good, so I found a consistent release point with it," said Hughes, who used the pitch effectively Wednesday. "It's been a good pitch for me."

Jose Veras (5-2) pitched the ninth and Sidney Ponson hurled the 10th to finish the game for New York, which will face Toronto again Thursday before finishing its schedule with a three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park this weekend.

Trailing, 1-0, in the third, the Yankees took the lead on Xavier Nady's two-run single off A.J. Burnett, who entered Wednesday's contest with a 6-3 record and a 2.58 ERA in 10 career starts against New York, including a 3-1 mark with a 1.78 ERA in four outings against it this season.

Burnett, who can opt out of the final two years of his contract after the season, came out to warm up for the ninth but was taken out before throwing a pitch to a standing ovation in what could be his final outing with the Blue Jays.

"He deserves that. It's too bad we couldn't get a win for him, but I wanted the fans to, certainly if he's not back, to see him walk off this field as a Blue Jay for the last time," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "I'm not sure (if it is his last start) - hopefully not."

Burnett allowed two runs - one earned - and seven hits in eight innings. The righthander struck out 11 and walked two for Toronto, which has been a special place for Burnett.

"It gave me goosebumps and tears almost at the same time," Burnett said. "It's great, man. (The fans have) been awesome all year - when they booed me, whether I won or not. I think they realize that I've taken a big step."