Yankees Game 50: Too little, too late offense

Ivan Nova struggled through six but the offense could not solve Marco Estrada in the New York Yankees' loss in Toronto.

New York Yankees 2 – Toronto Blue Jays 4

The Yankees begin a series north of the border as they face the Toronto Blue Jays on Memorial Day.

After Marco Estrada held the Yankees scoreless in the first inning, the Blue Jays got started against Ivan Nova in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Josh Donaldson got on base with a single and scored on the double by Edwin Encarnacion. In the third inning, Ryan Goins led off with a double. After a walk to Jose Bautista and a ground out advanced the two runners into scoring position, Edwin Encarnacion made it a three RBI night for him with a productive ground out. Michael Saunders brought home Bautista with a double to put the Blue Jays ahead by three.

Whether it was a one-run deficit or a three-run deficit, the Yankees could not get a rally started against Estrada. In the fourth and fifth inning, the Yankees got the lead off batter on but generated a double play to end the inning before it could really get started.

Nova gave up a solo home run to Goins in the fifth inning of a tough start for the righty.

In six innings, Ivan Nova allowed four runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Relievers Nick Goody and the debuting Richard Bleier held the Blue Jays at bay, giving the Yankees an opportunity to rally one more time.

After eight shutout innings by Estrada, reliever Aaron Loup came in for the ninth inning. After striking out pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder, Loup hit Carlos Beltran with a pitch. Brian McCann went to straight away center field with a deep, two-run home run to cut the deficit in half.

In an instant, Drew Storen was brought in for the save but started out with a double to Mark Teixeira. The Yankees ultimately fell short on a strikeout of Chase Headley.

Win – Marco Estrada (3-2)

Loss – Ivan Nova (3-3)

Save – Drew Storen (3)

Notables

Yankees

*Brian McCann – 1 for 4, R, Two-run home run (7) in the 9th, 2 RBI (21)

*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 4, 2B

Blue Jays

*Ryan Goins – 2 for 2, 2 R, 2B, Solo home run (3) in the 5th, RBI (9)

*Edwin Encarnacion – 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (40)

Current Yankees Record: 24-26