GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (78-77) at NY YANKEES (90-65)

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 4
NY YANKEES 1 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

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TORONTO (4) AT NY YANKEES (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
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TORONTO 2ND: F Thomas grounded out to third. A Hill singled to center.
G Zaun walked, A Hill to second. C Thigpen doubled to left, A Hill scored,
G Zaun to third. H Luna grounded out to third, G Zaun scored, C Thigpen to
third. J McDonald doubled to deep center, C Thigpen scored. R Johnson lined
out to left. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 3RD: M Stairs grounded out to shortstop. A Rios doubled to deep
right. F Thomas flied out to right, A Rios to third. A Hill safe at first on
error by shortstop D Jeter, A Rios scored. G Zaun fouled out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 6TH: D Jeter doubled to deep right. B Abreu grounded out to
first, D Jeter to third. A Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher, D Jeter scored.
H Matsui singled to left center. J Posada flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at NY YANKEES

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TORONTO (4) AT NY YANKEES (1) - EVENT LOG
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Toronto Starting Lineups -- R Johnson LF, M Stairs RF, A Rios CF, F Thomas DH,
A Hill 2B, G Zaun C, C Thigpen 1B, H Luna 3B, J McDonald SS, J Litsch RHP.

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon DH, D Jeter SS, B Abreu RF, A Rodriguez 3B,
H Matsui LF, J Posada C, R Cano 2B, D Mientkiewicz 1B, M Cabrera CF, A Pettitte LHP.

Umpires -- Ted Barrett (HP), Mark Carlson (1B), Angel Hernandez (2B),
Derryl Cousins (3B).

Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Sunny, wind in from left at 1 mph.


TORONTO 1ST: R Johnson grounded out to shortstop. M Stairs struck out
swinging. A Rios flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0,
NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon lined out to left. D Jeter flied out to right.
B Abreu grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 2ND: F Thomas grounded out to third. A Hill singled to center.
G Zaun walked, A Hill to second. C Thigpen doubled to left, A Hill scored,
G Zaun to third. H Luna grounded out to third, G Zaun scored, C Thigpen to
third. J McDonald doubled to deep center, C Thigpen scored. R Johnson lined
out to left. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. H Matsui grounded
out to first. J Posada grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 3, NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 3RD: M Stairs grounded out to shortstop. A Rios doubled to deep
right. F Thomas flied out to right, A Rios to third. A Hill safe at first on
error by shortstop D Jeter, A Rios scored. G Zaun fouled out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: R Cano grounded out to shortstop. D Mientkiewicz doubled
to deep right. M Cabrera safe at first on error by first baseman C Thigpen,
D Mientkiewicz to third. J Damon grounded out to first, M Cabrera to second.
D Jeter flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 4TH: C Thigpen fouled out to second. H Luna reached on infield
single to first. J McDonald grounded into double play, shortstop to second to
first, H Luna out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: B Abreu grounded out to second. A Rodriguez grounded out
to third. H Matsui hit a ground rule double to deep right. J Posada hit by
pitch. R Cano grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4,
NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 5TH: R Johnson grounded out to shortstop. M Stairs flied out to
right. A Rios lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4,
NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 5TH: D Mientkiewicz grounded out to pitcher. M Cabrera grounded
out to second. J Damon grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

TORONTO 6TH: F Thomas grounded out to second. A Hill grounded out to
shortstop. G Zaun grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 6TH: D Jeter doubled to deep right. B Abreu grounded out to
first, D Jeter to third. A Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher, D Jeter scored.
H Matsui singled to left center. J Posada flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

TORONTO 7TH: K Farnsworth relieved A Pettitte. C Thigpen fouled out to
first. H Luna flied out to right. J McDonald flied out to center. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 7TH: L Overbay at first base. R Cano flied out to center.
D Mientkiewicz struck out swinging. M Cabrera grounded out to first. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

TORONTO 8TH: J Veras relieved K Farnsworth. R Johnson doubled to deep
right. M Stairs flied out to center. A Rios fouled out to catcher. F Thomas
flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 8TH: J Damon grounded out to second. D Jeter grounded out to
shortstop. B Abreu doubled to deep right. C Janssen relieved J Litsch. A
Rodriguez reached on infield single to third, B Abreu to third. H Matsui flied
out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

TORONTO 9TH: R Ohlendorf relieved J Veras. A Hill flied out to right.
G Zaun lined out to right. L Overbay struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 9TH: J Posada popped out to shortstop. R Cano struck out
looking. J Giambi hit for D Mientkiewicz. J Giambi grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1.</div>

 

Surprise starter Litsch shuts down Yankees

<h3>TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- In the last week, teams in theAmerican League East have been trying to clinch playoff berths.They discovered that the Toronto Blue Jays are not the team thatis going to allow it.


The New York Yankees failed to reduce their magic number forclinching a playoff spot as they were handcuffed by JesseLitsch, who tossed 7 2/3 outstanding innings to lead the BlueJays to a 4-1 victory in the finale of a long four-game serieson Monday afternoon.


The Yankees (90-66) lost for just the fourth time in their last18 games and fell two games behind the idle Boston Red Sox(92-64) in the AL East.


The Blue Jays were responsible for the Yankees having a chanceat the division. They swept the Red Sox last week in Torontoand reduced a 4 1/2-game gap between the rivals by three.

But they also did not make it easy for the Yankees in a seriesthat took nearly 13 1/2 hours to play the first three games.After blowing a four-run lead in the ninth, the Blue Jays wonthe series opener in 14 innings and rallied twice in afive-hour, 12-11 loss.


On Sunday, they had the potential go-ahead run up with two outsin the eighth and were handed a 7-5 loss that took three hours,38 minutes to complete.


The makeup game from April 25 was perhaps the easiest of thefour thanks to Litsch. The rookie righthander filled in forA.J. Burnett and allowed just an RBI groundout to Alex Rodriguezin the sixth and just five hits.


Litsch (7-9) struck out one without a walk and threw 64 of 99pitches for strikes. Casey Janssen came on in the seventh afterLitsch gave up a two-out double to Bobby Abreu. After allowingan infield single to Rodriguez, he retired Hideki Matsui on aflyout to left.


Janssen also pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save of theseason.


Roughly two hours before the first pitch, Toronto announced thatBurnett would miss the game to attend to a family issue andLitsch was moved up a day. Five days after holding the Red Soxto a run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings, the 22-year-oldrighthander was sharp again.


He retired the first seven hitters before Doug Mientkiewiczdoubled and took third on an error by first baseman CurtisThigpen. But he retired Johnny Damon on a groundout and DerekJeter on a flyout and also stranded two in the fourth and two inthe sixth.


By the time Litsch allowed a hit, he had a 3-0 lead to work withas his teammates scored three in the second off Andy Pettitte(14-9).


Thigpen and John McDonald sandwiched RBI doubles around arun-scoring groundout by Hector Luna. The Blue Jays added anunearned run when Jeter misplayed Aaron Hill's grounder for anerror.


The Yankees had their biggest threat in the sixth as Jeterextended his hitting streak to 11 with a double and took thirdon a groundout by Abreu. But Rodriguez grounded out weakly toLitsch allowing Jeter to score and Hideki Matsui was stranded atfirst when Jorge Posada flied out.


Pettitte was pushed up a day to start for Roger Clemens, who hadbeen scratched twice in this series due to a hamstring injury.Clemens is scheduled to start Tuesday in Tampa Bay after havingstarts on Saturday and Monday pushed back.


Pettitte lasted six innings and allowed four runs and five hitswhile throwing 96 pitches. It was just his third loss in 13decisions since the All-Star break.

 

Surprise starter Litsch shuts down Yankees

<h3>TORONTO 4, NY YANKEES 1</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- In the last week, teams in theAmerican League East have been trying to clinch playoff berths.They discovered that the Toronto Blue Jays are not the team thatis going to allow it.


The New York Yankees failed to reduce their magic number forclinching a playoff spot as they were handcuffed by JesseLitsch, who tossed 7 2/3 outstanding innings to lead the BlueJays to a 4-1 victory in the finale of a long four-game serieson Monday afternoon.


The Yankees (90-66) lost for just the fourth time in their last18 games and fell two games behind the idle Boston Red Sox(92-64) in the AL East.


"First things first, you have to clinch the wild card before thedivision, that's where we are," Joe Torre said.


The Blue Jays were responsible for the Yankees having a chanceat the division. They swept the Red Sox last week in Torontoand reduced a 4 1/2-game gap between the rivals by three.

But they also did not make it easy for the Yankees in a seriesthat took a little over 16 hours to complete. After blowing afour-run lead in the ninth, the Blue Jays won the series openerin 14 innings and rallied twice in a five-hour, 12-11 loss.

"We're trying to win as many games as we can," Toronto managerJohn Gibbons said. "You always want to play good against theseteams."


"We feel like we're as good as anybody," Blue Jays catcher GreggZaun said. "We had a tough year injury-wise and I'll stack ourpitching up against either team in any league. It's just amatter of getting some offensive consistency next year. Wereally struggled to be consistent and find an identity at theplate and the injuries didn't help but it sure would be great ifthe pitching picked up where it left off and continue to keepus in ballgames."


On Sunday, Toronto had the potential go-ahead run up with twoouts in the eighth and were handed a 7-5 loss that took threehours, 38 minutes to complete.


The makeup game from April 25 was perhaps the easiest of thefour, thanks to Litsch. The rookie righthander filled in forA.J. Burnett and allowed just an RBI groundout to Alex Rodriguezin the sixth and just five hits.


"They have a good pitching staff," Yankees captain Derek Jetersaid. "I think the thing that has hurt Toronto over the years iswhen their pitchers get hurt.


"If those guys could ever stay healthy for a full season,there's no telling what they could do. But their pitching staffis as good as there is in the American League."


Litsch (7-9) struck out one, without a walk and threw 64 of 99pitches for strikes. Casey Janssen came on in the seventh afterLitsch gave up a two-out double to Bobby Abreu. After allowingan infield single to Rodriguez, he retired Hideki Matsui on aflyout to left.


"They know I'm going to attack and that's what I did - attackthe zone," Litsch said. "I got a lot of groundballs, which iswhat I was trying to do."


Janssen also pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save of theseason.


Roughly two hours before the first pitch, Toronto announced thatBurnett would miss the game to attend to a family issue andLitsch was moved up a day. Five days after holding the Red Soxto a run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings, the 22-year-oldrighthander was sharp again.


"I'm trying to finish strong and trying to make an impression onsome people," Litsch said. "Just going into the offseason I'mgoing to come back to spring training and see what happens."

He retired the first seven hitters before Doug Mientkiewiczdoubled and took third on an error by first baseman CurtisThigpen. But he retired Johnny Damon on a groundout and DerekJeter on a flyout and also stranded two in the fourth and two inthe sixth.


By the time Litsch allowed a hit, he had a 3-0 lead to work withas his teammates scored three in the second off Andy Pettitte(14-9).


"It gave Jesse a chance to go out there and relax there a littlebit and not feel like he had to make every single pitch a greatone," Zaun said. "So he was able to use the bigger part of thestrike zone and get ahead of guys and let them get themselvesout."


Thigpen and John McDonald sandwiched RBI doubles around arun-scoring groundout by Hector Luna. The Blue Jays added anunearned run when Jeter misplayed Aaron Hill's grounder for anerror.


The Yankees had their biggest threat in the sixth as Jeterextended his hitting streak to 11 with a double and took thirdon a groundout by Abreu. But Rodriguez grounded out weakly toLitsch allowing Jeter to score and Hideki Matsui was stranded atfirst when Jorge Posada flied out.


Pettitte was pushed up a day to start for Roger Clemens, who hadbeen scratched twice in this series due to a hamstring injury.Clemens is scheduled to start Tuesday in Tampa Bay after havingstarts on Saturday and Monday pushed back.


Pettitte (14-9) lasted six innings and allowed four runs andfive hits while throwing 96 pitches. It was just his third lossin 13 decisions since the All-Star break.


"A loss is disappointing to me, extremely disappointing,"Pettitte said. "We were playing good. That was one that gotaway from us quickly."