GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (62-50) at TORONTO (56-55)

AL: NY YANKEES (62-50) at TORONTO (56-55)

<h3>Surging Yankees look to take over top spot in wild card</h3>

<div class="pre">NY Yankees (62-50) at Toronto (56-55) 7:07 pm EDT</div>

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees will hope to take overthe top in the American League wild card when they face theToronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game series Tuesday.

New York, which has won seven of its last eight contests, sitsjust one-half game behind the struggling Detroit Tigers for thefinal playoff spot in the AL.


Aiming to continue the Yankees' drive towards the postseasonwill be Roger Clemens (3-5, 4.23 ERA).


The 45-year-old Clemens will aim to turn around the strugglesthat has forced him to surrender seven runs and 17 hits in justeight innings over his last two starts.


On Thursday, Clemens could not make it out of the second inning,giving up eight runs - three earned - and nine hits in a 13-9loss to the Chicago White Sox.


Although the presence of Clemens has energized New York since hejoined the club on June 9, the Yankees have struggled when thefuture Hall of Famer starts, going just 4-7. Overall, New Yorkis 33-18 since Clemens' return.


The Blue Jays will counter with Josh Towers (5-8, 5.17), who hasyielded four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in each ofhis last two starts, both losses.


The Yankees halted the Blue Jays' eight-game home winning streakon Monday with a 5-4 win, New York's fourth straight.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES TORONTO
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon LF .253 6 41 Reed Johnson LF .258 2 10
Derek Jeter SS .327 8 52 Lyle Overbay 1B .247 8 32
Bobby Abreu RF .284 11 70 Alex Rios RF .301 20 64
Alex Rodriguez 3B .301 36 109 Vernon Wells CF .258 14 60
Jorge Posada C .336 14 65 Frank Thomas DH .257 18 63
Robinson Cano 2B .308 11 65 Troy Glaus 3B .255 15 49
Andy Phillips 1B .291 2 19 Aaron Hill 2B .275 12 59
Shelley Duncan DH .310 5 10 Gregg Zaun C .249 5 28
Melky Cabrera CF .298 7 49 John Mcdonald SS .276 1 20

Roger Clemens RHP (3-5, 4.23) Josh Towers RHP (5-8, 5.17)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
WARMUPS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (3-5, 4.23)
TOR - JOSH TOWERS (5-8, 5.17)

UMPIRES: HP - ANGEL HERNANDEZ
1B - DERRYL COUSINS
2B - CHAD FAIRCHILD
3B - MARK CARLSON

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
STARTING BATS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS AND JORGE POSADA
TOR - JOSH TOWERS AND GREGG ZAUN

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.253, 6 HR, 41 RBI)
D JETER (.327, 8 HR, 52 RBI)
B ABREU (.284, 11 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.258, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.247, 8 HR, 32 RBI)
A RIOS (.301, 20 HR, 64 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

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



TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
V Wells cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.23

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.12

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Towers 2-1.
Batters faced: J Towers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.336, 14 HR, 65 RBI)
R CANO (.308, 11 HR, 65 RBI)
A PHILLIPS (.291, 2 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

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



TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.16

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.12

Pitches-strikes: R Clemens 13-6; J Towers 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Clemens 1-2; J Towers 2-1. Batters faced: R Clemens 4; J Towers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.257, 18 HR, 63 RBI)
T GLAUS (.255, 15 HR, 49 RBI)
A HILL (.275, 12 HR, 59 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .338
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
S Duncan dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .300
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 1 3

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

BASERUNNING: SB - R Cano (3, 2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - R Johnson (J Posada at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.16

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.06

Pitches-strikes: R Clemens 13-6; J Towers 36-22. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Clemens 1-2; J Towers 3-1. Batters faced: R Clemens 4; J Towers 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.298, 7 HR, 49 RBI)
J DAMON (.255, 1-FOR-1)
D JETER (.327, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .338
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
S Duncan dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .300
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 1 3

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

BASERUNNING: SB - R Cano (3, 2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Jeter-R Cano-A Phillips).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
F Thomas dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - T Glaus. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - R Johnson (J Posada at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.10

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.06

Pitches-strikes: R Clemens 22-11; J Towers 36-22. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Clemens 3-3; J Towers 3-1. Batters faced: R Clemens 7; J Towers 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL NY YANKEES AT TORONTO
NOTE: NEW YORK CENTER FIELDER MELKY CABRERA EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 13 GAMES WITH A DOUBLE IN THE THIRD INNING.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED JOHNNY DAMON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B ABREU ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1
TORONTO 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.300, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JORGE POSADA SCORED BOBBY ABREU AND ALEX
RODRIGUEZ.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J POSADA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TORONTO 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.308, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: G ZAUN (.249, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
J MCDONALD (.276, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
R JOHNSON (.256, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326
B Abreu rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 .340
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .287
S Duncan dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .300
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299

Totals 12 3 5 3 3 1 6

BATTING: 2B - M Cabrera (18, J Towers); J Posada (32, J Towers). 3B - B Abreu
(3, J Towers). RBI - B Abreu (71), J Posada 2 (67). 2-out RBI - B Abreu, J
Posada 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Phillips 1, A Rodriguez
1, S Duncan 1. GIDP - D Jeter. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Cano (3, 2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Jeter-R Cano-A Phillips).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
F Thomas dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - T Glaus. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - R Johnson (J Posada at 2nd base). DP: 1 (J
Towers-T Glaus-L Overbay).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 003 -- 3
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.10

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 3 5 3 3 3 1 0 5.29

IBB - R Cano (by J Towers). HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Towers). Pitches-strikes:
R Clemens 22-11; J Towers 61-33. Ground balls-fly balls: R Clemens 3-3; J
Towers 5-2. Batters faced: R Clemens 7; J Towers 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS
TOR - JOSH TOWERS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: S DUNCAN (.300, 0-FOR-1)
M CABRERA (.299, 1-FOR-1)
J DAMON (.255, 1-FOR-1, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (3) VS TORONTO (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .255
D Jeter ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .326
B Abreu rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .300
J Posada c 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 .340
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .308
A Phillips 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .287
S Duncan dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .300
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299

Totals 12 3 5 3 3 1 6

BATTING: 2B - M Cabrera (18, J Towers); J Posada (32, J Towers). 3B - B Abreu
(3, J Towers). RBI - B Abreu (71), J Posada 2 (67). 2-out RBI - B Abreu, J
Posada 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Phillips 1, A Rodriguez
1, S Duncan 1. GIDP - D Jeter. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Cano (3, 2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Jeter-R Cano-A Phillips).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .258
F Thomas dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 9 0 1 0 1 1 3

BATTING: GIDP - T Glaus. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - R Johnson (J Posada at 2nd base). DP: 1 (J
Towers-T Glaus-L Overbay).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 003 -- 3
TORONTO - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.04

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 3 5 3 3 3 1 0 5.29

IBB - R Cano (by J Towers). HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Towers). Pitches-strikes:
R Clemens 40-23; J Towers 61-33. Ground balls-fly balls: R Clemens 4-4; J
Towers 5-2. Batters faced: R Clemens 10; J Towers 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Chad Fairchild.
3B--Mark Carlson.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>