GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (77-75) at NY YANKEES (88-64)

AL: TORONTO (77-75) at NY YANKEES (88-64)

<h3>Yankees face tough test as they continue playoff climb</h3>

<div class="pre">Toronto (77-75) at NY Yankees (88-64) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - If recent trends continue, the NewYork Yankees may win their division yet again as they begin athree-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Not too long ago, it appeared improbable whether or not theYankees would even make the postseason. But New York, winnersof nine straight American League East titles, has won fourstraight games and 12 of 14 since, moving it to within 1 1/2games of first-place Boston (90-63) in the division.

The Yankees, who also lead the wild card by 5 1/2 games over theDetroit Tigers (83-70), have trimmed 5 1/2 games off theseven-game lead the Red Sox held on September 4.


They will have their work cut out for themselves on Friday,however, as they face Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (15-7, 3.82ERA), who won for the first time in six starts on Saturdayagainst Baltimore. He yielded one run and five hits over seveninnings in an 8-3 win.


The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner is 10-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 25games - 23 starts - against the Yankees. In his last threestarts at Yankee Stadium, Halladay has allowed just one run.

New York will counter with ace Chien-Ming Wang (18-7, 3.82), whowill be looking to rebound from a poor performance in his laststart. In a 10-1 loss to Boston on Saturday, he surrenderedfive runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings, putting an end to afive-start winning streak for the sinkerballer.


Over his career, Wang is 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in six careerstarts against Toronto.


The Blue Jays are coming off a three-game sweep over the Red Soxduring the week, enabling the Yankees to make their chargetowards the division crown.

 

AL: TORONTO (77-75) at NY YANKEES (88-64)

<h3>Yankees take on Blue Jays, aim to catch up in AL East</h3>



<div class="pre">Toronto (78-75) at NY Yankees (88-65) 1:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees nearly</div>completed a improbable comeback on Friday, and for the firsttime in nearly a week, actually lost ground in the AmericanLeague East.


New York scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to tieToronto, but the Blue Jays got a game-winning home run from GregZaun to beat the Yankees, 5-4, in 14 innings on Friday.

The Yankees will look to regain momentum when they continue thisfour-game series Saturday.


The Yankees, who had trailed the Boston Red Sox (91-63) by 5 1/2games on September 15, had won four games in a row - coupledwith the Red Sox losing four games in a row - and trimmed thedeficit to just 1 1/2 games. However, with the loss on Fridayand the Red Sox win, New York currently sits 2 1/2 games back.

Rookie Phil Hughes (4-3, 4.75 ERA) will start for the Yankees inplace of fellow rookie Ian Kennedy, who was scratched becauseof a strained muscle in his upper back. Hughes has won his lasttwo starts, and gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings againstBaltimore on Monday. The 21-year-old righthander defeatedToronto on September 11, pitching six innings and giving up tworuns - one earned.


The Blue Jays will counter with Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.15). The25-year-old righthander has gone winless in his three starts inSeptember, which includes a loss to New York on September 11.Marcum lasted only 4 1/3 innings and gave up eight runs andeight hits. He is 7-2 with a 2.71 ERA away from home thisseason.


Toronto, which swept the Red Sox in a three-game series earlierthis week, has won four games in a row.

 

AL: TORONTO (78-76) at NY YANKEES (89-65)

<h3>Mussina, Yankees take on Blue Jays</h3>

<div class="pre">Toronto (78-76) at NY Yankees (89-65) 1:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Mike Mussina makes his final case to</div>be in the postseason rotation as the New York Yankees take onthe Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday in the third game of a four-gameseries.


Mussina (10-10, 5.01 ERA) has put together two strong outingsafter being pounded in a four-start stretch, which ended withthe 17-year veteran being demoted to the bullpen.


The righthander went 0-3 from August 16 to September 3,surrendering 21 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings and was droppedfrom the rotation in favor of rookie Ian Kennedy. However,Mussina has rebounded by throwing 12 2/3 scoreless innings,winning his last two starts against Toronto and Baltimore,respectively.


Although the American League East is still well in New York'ssights, the Yankees have a magic number of just three over theDetroit Tigers (84-71) in the AL wild card standings. New Yorkalso just sits 2 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox (92-63)for the division lead.


Toronto will counter with Dustin McGowan (11-9, 3.84) on themound. The righthander pitched a complete game in his last starton Monday against Boston, giving up one run and five hits withnine strikeouts to gain the victory. The 25-year-old is 2-1against New York this season.


The teams have played a pair of wild games in the first twocontests of this series. Toronto defeated the Yankees, 5-4, in14 innings on Friday after New York had scored four runs in thebottom of the ninth to tie the game. Saturday's matchup saw theYankees even the series with a 12-11 win in 10 innings, afterboth teams blew leads in the eighth inning.

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT NY YANKEES -- LINEUPS

TORONTO NY YANKEES
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Reed Johnson RF .239 2 12 Johnny Damon LF .259 11 59
Russ Adams 3B .302 2 11 Derek Jeter SS .319 11 67
Alex Rios CF .297 24 84 Bobby Abreu RF .283 16 98
Matt Stairs DH .293 19 59 Alex Rodriguez 3B .313 52 146
Aaron Hill 2B .283 16 74 Hideki Matsui DH .289 25 102
Gregg Zaun C .248 10 50 Robinson Cano 2B .301 18 88
Adam Lind LF .233 9 35 Melky Cabrera CF .282 8 70
Curtis Thigpen 1B .215 0 7 Doug Mientkiewicz 1B .257 5 22
John Mcdonald SS .246 1 28 Jose Molina C .241 1 14

Dustin Mcgowan RHP (11-9, 3.84) Mike Mussina RHP (10-10, 5.01)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (11-9, 3.84)
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (10-10, 5.01)

UMPIRES: HP - DERRYL COUSINS
1B - TED BARRETT
2B - ROB DRAKE
3B - ANGEL HERNANDEZ

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 3 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO
CEREMONIES.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (11-9, 3.84)
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (10-10, 5.01)

UMPIRES: HP - DERRYL COUSINS
1B - TED BARRETT
2B - ROB DRAKE
3B - ANGEL HERNANDEZ

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 3 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 12 MINUTE DELAY.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN AND GREGG ZAUN
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA AND JOSE MOLINA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.239, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
R ADAMS (.302, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
A RIOS (.297, 24 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.259, 11 HR, 59 RBI)
D JETER (.319, 11 HR, 67 RBI)
B ABREU (.283, 16 HR, 98 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
M Stairs dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
NY YANKEES - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.84

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.98

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mussina 1-1.
Batters faced: M Mussina 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Derryl Cousins. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 12 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees,
sunny. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL TORONTO AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: NEW YORK SHORTSTOP DEREK JETER EXTENDED HIS HITTING
STREAK TO 10 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.293, 19 HR, 59 RBI)
A HILL (.283, 16 HR, 74 RBI)
G ZAUN (.248, 10 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS NY YANKEES (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
M Stairs dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (14, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.82

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.98

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 17-11; M Mussina 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D
McGowan 0-2; M Mussina 1-1. Batters faced: D McGowan 4; M Mussina 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Derryl Cousins. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 12 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees,
sunny. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ADAM LIND SCORED MATT STAIRS AND AARON HILL.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A LIND ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.215, 0 HR, 7 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CURTIS THIGPEN SCORED ADAM LIND.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C THIGPEN ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J MCDONALD (.246, 1 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 3 3 4 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.289, 25 HR, 102 RBI)
R CANO (.301, 18 HR, 88 RBI)
M CABRERA (.282, 8 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">TORONTO (3) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .237
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
M Stairs dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .248
A Lind lf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .236
C Thigpen 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .225
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245

Totals 10 3 4 3 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - A Hill (45, M Mussina); A Lind (14, M Mussina). RBI - A Lind 2
(37), C Thigpen (8). Team LOB - 1.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (14, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 03 -- 3
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.82

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 4 3 3 0 1 0 5.13

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 17-11; M Mussina 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: D
McGowan 0-2; M Mussina 2-3. Batters faced: D McGowan 4; M Mussina 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Derryl Cousins. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 12 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees,
sunny. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSE MOLINA SCORED HIDEKI MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MOLINA ON FIRST, M CABRERA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.258, 0-FOR-1)</div>