Yankees Rally to Within 7 of Boston

The Yankees were comeback kids for the 2nd time tonight as the beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1. The win was their 5th straight and in 11th in their past 14 games. Combined with losses by Boston and Cleveland, the Yankees move to within 7 of the AL East lead and 6 back in the wild card race.

A lot of the Yankees contributed to the win and Alex Rodriguez was right in the middle of it. Blue Jays' starter Shaun Marcum held the Yankees to just 2 hits through the first 6 innings. But Marcum (5-4) had to wait as the Blue Jays mounted a threat in the top of the 7th and the Yankees made a pitching change. Add the 7th inning stretch and Marcum was on the bench a long time between the 6th and 7th innings. Whether it had an effect on him remains to be seen.

Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu stroked back to back singles to start the 7th, and doubled the team's hit total in the process. Jays' manager John Gibbons decided to stick with his starter who was having one of his best games. But Alex Rodriguez lined a hard double over the head of left fielder Reed Johnson. Jeter scored easily, and Abreu read the ball perfectly, enabling him to race home with the go ahead run.

Scott Downs replaced Marcum, and was immediately greeted by a Hideki Matsui single to put runners on the corners. Jorge Posada struck out, but Robinson Cano walked to load the bases. That's when the Yankees' newest clutch hitter came through again. Andy Phillips pulled a single through the right side to bring home 2 more runs and give the Bombers a 4-1 lead.

The Jays tried to come right back, putting two men on against Brian Bruney and Ron Villone, but Mariano Rivera came on to retire Reed Johnson on a ground out, and then struck out Alex Rios to end the inning. Mo then retired the side in order in the 9th to record his 15th straight save. Mike Myers, who came on to retire Lyle Overbay with the bases loaded and 2 out in the 7th, picked up his 1st win of the year.

Roger Clemens worked his way in and out of trouble for 6 innings, scattering 9 hits and allowing the Blue Jays' 1 run. That run came in the 1st when Rios, who had 3 hits, tripled with 1 out. Clemens retired Vernon Wells on a pop out, but Troy Glaus singled to left to drive in Rios.

The Blue Jays got 2 runners on in the 3rd, but Clemens got Wells on a ground out and struck out Glaus to keep his team in the game. One inning later the Blue Jays had men on the corners with 1 out, but Jason Phillips bounced into an inning ending double play. Clemens made like Houdini one more time in the 6th when the Jays again put runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. But Phillips flied to shallow right and John McDonald flied out to center to end the inning and Clemens start.

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Matsui extended his hitting streak to 13 games, but Melky Cabrera was 0-3 to end his 13 game streak.

Abreu's 7th inning single snapped an 0-15 skid.

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