Yanks Fall 9-8 To Blue Jays In Extras

In the middle of a playoff hunt with 35 games to play the Yankees (74-54) welcomed the last place Toronto Blue Jays (57-70) to Yankee Stadium on Monday to start a three game series. The Yankees would lose 9-8 in extra innings after a wild ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth with the Yanks leading 6-4 and Rafael Soriano on the mound the Blue Jays fought back and took the lead on a two out, two strike three run homer from Colby Rasmus. Soriano struck out Yorvit Torrealba, allowed Moises Sierra to single, got Adeiny Hechaviarra to pop out then with two outs let Rajai Davis single leading to the Rasmus homer.

Derek Jeter leading off the bottom of the ninth would have no part of it. Jeter launched a trademark “inside out” home run over the right center field wall tying the game at 7 off of Toronto closer Casey Janssen. It was Jeter’s 14^th of the season.

The Blue Jays would eventually prevail in the top of the 11^th. Derek Lowe allowed leadoff man Yorvit Torrealba to single. Mike McCoy then pinch ran for Torrealba. McCoy advanced to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt from Lowe. McCoy then scored what would be the winning run on a groundout to third base from Adeiny Hechaviarra.  Darren Oliver (3-2) got the win shutting the Yanks down in the 10^th and 11^th innings. Lowe was the loser (8-11).

After struggling at the plate over the past few days Robinson Cano looked like he could break out of a slump on Monday night lifting a solo shot over the right center field wall in the first inning and another in the fourth inning. The two homers put Cano at 27 for the season.

The Yankees weren’t done after the leadoff Cano homer in the fourth, Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez walked Mark Teixeira and Eric Chavez singled leading to a Russell Martin RBI single. Alvarez was then pulled for Aaron Laffey who got Raul Ibanez to ground into a fielder’s choice allowing a run to score putting the Yankees up 4-1. Alvarez went 3 1/3 gave up four runs on five hits.

The Blue Jays got on the board in the second inning when Adam Lind lifted a solo home run over the right center field wall. It was Lind’s 9^th. In the fifth inning Yorvit Torrealba powered an opposite field two run homer off of David Phelps that just cleared the right field wall making the score 4-3 Yanks. It was only Torrealba’s fourth of the season

Nick Swisher answered that two run home run with one of his own in the bottom of the fifth off of Aaron Laffey; it was Swisher’s 20^th of the season and put the Yanks up 6-3.

In the seventh inning David Phelps quickly retired Kelly Johnson. The next batter Yorvit Torrealba singled prompting Joe Girardi to bring in Cody Eppley. Eppley got Moises Sierra to ground out  but could not get the next batter Adeiny Hechavarria  who singled bringing in Torrealba making the score 6-4. Phelps went 6 1/3 gave up four runs on five hits and struck out seven.

Mark Teixeira left the game after the fourth inning with a left calf strain.

The Yankees will play the Blue Jays again on Tuesday night. Ricky Romero (8-11 5.63) will start for the Blue Jays while Phil Hughes (12-11 4.15) goes for the Yankees. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30, first pitch at 7:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.