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Blue Jays-Yankees Preview

Jul 3, 2009 - 5:51 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (42-38) at New York (45-33), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees have a quick turnaround as they try to erase the memories of their seven-game winning streak ending.

New York will begin a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays with a Friday afternoon game at the new Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees (45-33) fell 8-4 on Thursday night to Seattle as their winning streak was snapped. Ace CC Sabathia gave up six runs over 5 2-3 innings, and the top four hitters in New York's lineup went 1 for 15.

"When you're playing so well and doing so many things right," manager Joe Girardi told the Yankees' official Web site, "you are surprised when you see little things that don't go right."

Alex Rodriguez was 0 for 3 as his modest seven-game hitting streak came to an end. Rodriguez went 10 for 23 with four homers and 13 RBIs and seven runs scored during the Yankees' win streak.

New York took two of three May 12-14 from Toronto (42-38), which opens a 10-game road trip against AL East foes and is looking forward to its first visit to the Yankees' new hitter-friendly stadium in the Bronx.

"That's going to be something we're all looking forward to seeing," manager Cito Gaston told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "I'm looking forward to seeing that ball travel, and I hope it's traveling for us - not so much for them."

The Toronto players were just as excited to see the new facility.

"From what I've heard, the place is unbelievable," catcher Rod Barajas said. "We've talked to guys from other teams that have already gone in there, and they say it's the best, that it's amazing - everything about it."

Toronto third baseman Scott Rolen enters with a career-high 19-game hitting streak in which he is batting .423 (33 for 78) with three homers and 12 RBIs.

The Yankees' A.J. Burnett (6-4, 3.93 ERA) will face his former team for the second time this year. Burnett opted out of the final two years of his contract after three seasons with Toronto and signed a five-year, $82.5 million deal with New York this past offseason.

He made his return to Toronto May 12 and was booed repeatedly as he gave up five runs over 7 2-3 innings in a 5-1 loss.

"It was what I expected," Burnett said. "Any time you opt out of a contract like that and go somewhere else, you're going to get that."

The right-hander enters after his best game with the Yankees, as he allowed one single over seven innings Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Mets. Burnett is 4-2 with a 1.75 ERA in his last six starts.

Toronto starter Brian Tallet (5-5, 4.47) has pitched very well in his last five outings on the road, going 2-2 with a 1.74 ERA. He last pitched Sunday at home against Philadelphia and gave up five runs over six innings in a 5-4 loss.

The left-hander made his first career start against the Yankees on May 14 and allowed two runs over six innings and did not get a decision in a 3-2 loss. He also has a 2.86 ERA over 20 relief appearances against New York.

The Yankees' Hideki Matsui is 6 for 11 with four RBIs in his career versus Tallet. Matsui homered and drove in three runs Thursday for New York.