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RHP Clippard, Yankees look to prevent second straight sweep

May 30, 2007 - 2:57 PM NY Yankees (21-29) at Toronto (24-27) 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees will rely on rookie Tyler Clippard to help them avoid being swept in consecutive series for the first time in seven years.

Clippard makes his third career start as the Yankees wrap up their series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

New York absorbed its fifth straight defeat with a 3-2 setback on Tuesday. The Yankees have not been swept in consecutive series since 2000 when they dropped sets to Tampa Bay and Baltimore from September 26-October 1.

With Tuesday's loss, the Yankees, who has lost 13 of 18, fell a season-high 14 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox.

The 22-year-old Clippard (1-1, 3.60 ERA), who allowed three runs and six hits in four innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday, will be in charge of making sure the Yankees do not get swept by the Blue Jays for the first time in four years.

Meanwhile, Toronto, which has not swept the Yankees since May 22-25 of 2003, will send a rookie of their own to the mound. Jesse Litsch (1-1, 4.24) allowed three runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Friday.