Toronto Blue Jays 4 — New York Yankees 5
In a gritty start, CC Sabathia is assisted by Travis Hafner in today’s 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
In his sixth start of the season, Sabathia trailed by one going into the fourth inning. A leadoff home run by Jose Bautista increased the deficit. Then, with a runner on third, Brett Lawrie hit a fly ball to right field where Ichiro defends. Ichiro, known for having an accurate and strong arm, was tested at home and on one bounce the throw got there but Chris Stewart was unable to hold onto the throw, allowing a run to score on his error.
Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ was holding the Yankees off the scoreboard but he lost the strike zone after receiving a three-run lead. A walk of Vernon Wells and Kevin Youkilis put the tying run at the plate in the form of Travis Hafner. The man nicknamed “Pronk” came through against the left-handed Happ with his sixth home run of the season, tying the game at three.
The bullpen had been warming up behind Sabahia by the fifth inning but the ace of the Yankees staff also showed his workhorse efforts with four more innings. The only run allowed in the last four innings of Sabathia’s start came on a solo home run by Brett Lawrie in the sixth inning. CC Sabathia gave the Yankees eight innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits while striking out four.
In the seventh inning, the Blue Jays went to the bullpen for right-hander Esmil Rogers and the Yankees would begin to rally. Robinson Cano laced a line drive down the right field line and just got into second base for a double. Vernon Wells would extend his hitting streak against his former team to six with a game-tying single to center field. The Jays would turn to the bullpen to face Travis Hafner and called on Brett Cecil. The left-hander had dominated Hafner coming into today’s game (0 for 11). On a deep fly ball to center field, Hafner would cruise into third base with a go-ahead triple off of the glove of Rajai Davis. Travis Hafner finished today’s game with two hits, a home run and a triple, in four at-bats with four of the five Yankees runs driven in.
After two consecutive appearances by Mariano Rivera, the 43-year-old closer was given today off and the ninth inning role was given to Joba Chamberlain. After a strikeout of pinch-hitter Colby Rasmus, a pair of singles would put the go-ahead run on first base and Chamberlain was in a tight spot. A shallow fly out to right and a force out at third base would shut the door, earning Joba his first save since September 2010.
Ichiro Suzuki’s bat has been heating up of recently with a five-game hitting streak, hitting 8 for 19 (.421), including two hits today. Kevin Youkilis returned to the lineup today, going hitless in four plate appearances but walking once and scoring on the Hafner home run, after missing the last six games with a back issue. Chris Stewart started today’s game but recently called up catcher Austin Romine was in the dugout. Also recently called up left-handed pitcher, Vidal Nuno, was spotted warming up in the bullpen during today’s game but did not make his debut.
Win – CC Sabathia (4-2)
Loss – Esmil Rogers (1-2)
Save – Joba Chamberlain (1)
Notables
Blue Jays
*Jose Bautista – 1 for 4, Solo Home Run (7) in the 4th, RBI (11)
*Brett Lawrie – 1 for 4, Solo Home Run (2) in the 6th, RBI (5)
Yankees
*Travis Hafner – 2 for 4, R, 3B, 3-Run Home Run (6) in the 4th, 4 RBI (14)
*Vernon Wells – 1 for 3, 2 R, BB, RBI (12)
Current Yankees Record: 14-9 (Streak – W3)
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