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Gonzalez gets even, Jays beat Yanks to end skid

Jul 2, 2010 - 10:09 PM By BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Alex Gonzalez got robbed, then got rooked. Next time up - yep - he got more than even.

Gonzalez hit a go-ahead single in the 11th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays broke loose, beating the New York Yankees 6-1 Friday to end a five-game losing streak.

"I got one more chance," Gonzalez said.

The Blue Jays trailed 1-0 when Gonzalez opened the eighth with a long drive that left fielder Brett Gardner caught while banging into the wall.

It was 1-all when Gonzalez got another opportunity in the ninth, batting with two outs and a runner on first. He got nicked in the left forearm by a pitch from Mariano Rivera - and later showed off a pink mark to prove it - but plate umpire Mark Wegner ruled a foul ball.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston came out to argue and Wegner consulted with two umpires before letting the call stand. Rivera struck out Gonzalez with the next pitch.

"It did hit my bat, after it hit my arm," Gonzalez said. "But what can you do?"

Crew chief Dale Scott said the umpires didn't have enough evidence to overturn the ruling.

Lyle Overbay opened the Toronto 11th with a single that skidded past second baseman Robinson Cano. A single by John Buck, a sacrifice by Jarrett Hoffpauir and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Gonzalez, who lined his single over leaping third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

"It was close. I thought he might get it," Gonzalez said.

After Jose Bautista was called out on strikes - Gaston was ejected for arguing with Wegner - Vernon Wells drew a bases-loaded walk and Dewayne Wise hit a bases-loaded triple.

Jason Frasor (3-1) pitched the 10th for the win. David Robertson (0-3) took the loss.

The Blue Jays, who lead the majors in home runs, won despite going without a homer for the fifth straight game. The Yankees were held to five hits, all singles.

"Everyone has a chance to step up and have good days," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

"We've had a tough time scoring lately," he said. "Every offense goes through it."

Starters A.J. Burnett and Brett Cecil kept it close despite bouts of wildness. The Blue Jays tied it at 1 in the eighth on Aaron Hill's RBI single with two outs off Joba Chamberlain.

Burnett began July with 6 2-3 shutout innings, following a June in which he went 0-5 with an 11.35 ERA. His slump coincided with the absence of pitching coach Dave Eiland, who was out for personal reasons.

Burnett gave up four hits and worked around three walks, two wild pitches and a hit batter. He got a quick visit from Eiland after a pair of walks to open the third, and Burnett retired the next three batters.

"It's good to hear his voice," Burnett said.

Burnett got a big ovation when he was pulled in the seventh. He acknowledged the cheers by holding up his glove in his pitching hand.

"I thought I was able to make pitches when I needed to," he said.

Cecil limited the Yankees to one run and four hits in six innings despite walking six. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third when he recovered from a 2-0 count to strike out Rodriguez, then fanned Cano and retired Jorge Posada on a grounder.

Cecil said a visit from pitching coach Bruce Walton helped. The lefty said Walton told him to "throw as hard as you can. If you're going to get beat, get beat with your best."

Rodriguez put the Yankees ahead with a sacrifice fly in the first.

NOTES: The Blue Jays made a series of roster moves. They put RHP Shaun Marcum on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his pitching elbow, called up LHP Mark Rzepczynski from Triple-A Las Vegas, selected the contract of 3B Edwin Encarnacion from Las Vegas and optioned Hoffpauir to the Triple-A team. Also, OF Jeremy Reed refused his outright assignment and became a free agent. ... Rivera made his 16th straight scoreless appearance. ... Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira slipped after a swing in the 10th and stumbled out of the batter's box. He was OK. ... Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson made a backhanded grab on Overbay's shot in the fourth.