Final
  for this game

Blue Jays-Yankees Preview

Jul 3, 2010 - 1:19 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (40-40) at New York (48-30), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees have had a tough time getting their bats untracked on this homestand, and it may not get any easier Saturday.

The Yankees could be in for another difficult afternoon against Ricky Romero as they continue a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York (48-31) has faced some outstanding pitchers on this six-game stretch at Yankee Stadium, scoring a total of seven runs in losing three of four. The Yankees didn't fare well against Seattle stars Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez, and they only managed five singles against Brett Cecil and four relievers in a 6-1, 11-inning loss Friday to Toronto (41-40).

"Everyone has a chance to step up and have good days," manager Joe Girardi said. "We've had a tough time scoring lately. Every offense goes through it."

Robinson Cano is 2 for 16 over his last four games, Derek Jeter is 3 for 15 and Alex Rodriguez is 2 for 14 in the same span.

Those hitters will try to break out against Romero (6-4, 2.83 ERA), who is 1-1 with a 0.86 ERA over his last three outings. Romero allowed two runs in seven innings Monday in a 2-1 loss at Cleveland.

The left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts against the Yankees, including a solid eight-inning stint in which he gave up two runs June 5 in a 3-2, 14-inning home victory.

Rodriguez is 4 for 11 against Romero, while Cano (1 for 11) and Jeter (1 for 10) have fared poorly.

Cecil's outing Friday lowered the ERA of Toronto's starters against New York to 1.55 in four games. The Blue Jays improved to 3-1 against the Yankees after Alex Gonzalez's RBI single started a five-run rally in the 11th.

Toronto won despite not homering for a season-high fifth straight game. The Blue Jays lead the majors with 115 homers, and hit six when they took two of three from the Yankees from June 4-6.

Facing the best power-hitting team in baseball may be a daunting task for Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (9-2, 2.72), who has not won a home start against the Blue Jays since Aug. 2, 1999. Pettitte is 0-5 with a 6.58 ERA in nine starts in the Bronx against Toronto since, including one last year at the new Yankee Stadium.

The 38-year-old left-hander, though, is enjoying one of his finest seasons and could be in line for his first All-Star game selection since 2001.

"I can't say that it would be extremely important to me, but it would definitely be nice," Pettitte told MLB.com. "At this stage, not knowing how much longer I've got, it would be extremely cool. And then obviously to have our coaching staff there, it would be special."

Pettitte gave up five runs over five innings Sunday in an 8-6, 10-inning win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It ended a run of six straight starts in which he lasted at least seven innings.

Blue Jays cleanup hitter Vernon Wells - hitless in his last 13 at-bats - is a career .354 hitter against Pettitte.






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    Blue Jays 3, Yankees 11  FinalJul 4 7:15 AM


  • Yankees 11, Blue Jays 3 - FINAL
    TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
    N Green dh-ss 4 1 1 0 0 2 0 .200
    A Gonzalez ss 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .262
    J Bautista rf 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 .229
    V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .274
    D Wise cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
    J Buck c 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .271
    A Hi

    Jul 3 3:54 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY ALEX GONZALEZ (15) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0
    OUT IN THE 6TH OFF ANDY PETTITTE.
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3, NY YANKEES 11
    DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J BAUTISTA (.231, 1-FOR-2, HR, 2 RBI)

    Blue Jays 3, Yankees 11  Top 6, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    DOUBLE BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ SCORED MARK TEIXEIRA, NICK SWISHER
    AND DEREK JETER
    SITUATION: 11 RUNS IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
    NY YANKEES 11 BOTTOM,3RD
    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.348, 1-FOR-2, RBI)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 11  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    GRAND SLAM BY BRETT GARDNER (4) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
    IN THE 3RD OFF RICKY ROMERO SCORED CHAD HUFFMAN, CURTIS
    GRANDERSON AND ROBINSON CANO.
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2, NY YANKEES 8
    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.282, 0-FOR-0, 2 BB)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 8  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY ROBINSON CANO SCORED MARK TEIXEIRA
    SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, R CANO ON FIRST, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
    NY YANKEES 4 BOTTOM,3RD
    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.269, 1-FOR-1)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 4  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    GROUND OUT BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ SCORED NICK SWISHER
    SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M TEIXEIRA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
    NY YANKEES 3 BOTTOM,3RD
    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.346, 0-FOR-1)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 3  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM


  • AL
    AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
    DOUBLE BY MARK TEIXEIRA SCORED DEREK JETER AND BRETT
    GARDNER
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M TEIXEIRA ON SECOND, N SWISHER ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
    CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
    NY YANKEES 2 BOTTOM,3RD
    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.277, 0-FOR-1)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 2  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 3:38 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 0  Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 3 2:47 PM


  • AL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    TORONTO 2 2 3 0
    NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)


    CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - RICKY ROMERO
    NYY - ANDY PETTITTE

    DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.282, 8 HR, 39 RBI)
    N SWISHER (.288, 13 HR, 47 RBI)
    M TEIXEIRA (.232, 13 HR, 49 RBI)

    Blue Jays 2, Yankees 0  Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 3 1:22 PM
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    Blue Jays vs. YankeesMay 25 2:00 AM