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Yankees continue search for offense vs. Toronto

Jul 12, 2008 - 12:08 PM NY Yankees (49-44) at Toronto (46-47) 1:07 pm ET

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees have yet to find their usual consistency on offense, one big reason the team finds themselves in the middle of the pack in the American League East.

The Yankees attempt to get their offense untracked on Saturday when they continue a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Since routing Texas, 18-7, on July 2, New York has scored just 20 runs in over its next eight games, including two over its last two contests. The 4-4 record over that eight-game stretch comes at a bad time for the team, which has only gained just one game on the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays (55-37) despite that club's 3-5 record over the same period.

The Yankees suffered their sixth shutout this season in the series opener, succumbing to Roy Halladay's two-hitter in Friday's 5-0 loss.

New York will face starter Jesse Litsch (8-5, 4.01 ERA), who has yet to lose to an American League opponent at home this season. The righthander took the loss in Sunday's 7-1 road setback to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after surrendering six runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.

He will be countered by Darrell Rasner (4-7, 4.94), who is struggling in his own right. The righthander, who hasn't lasted into the sixth inning in any of his last five starts, is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA over his last three starts, including a 6-4 loss on Independence Day to Boston when he allowed six runs and 10 hits over five innings.