Yankees Vs. Blue Jays Final Score: New York Drops Series Finale, 8-5

Yunel Escobar went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday, helping the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the New York Yankees, 6-5, in the rubber match of the three-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees (75-54) have now lost six of their last nine games and own just a three-and-a-half-game lead in the AL East standings.

Escobar's blast came off of losing pitcher CC Sabathia (13-4), and turned a one-run New York lead into a one-run deficit, bringing the score to 5-4. The Blue Jays tacked on a run in the top of the eighth, and later put the game away with a two-run ninth.

Sabathia pitched seven innings and allowed five runs on nine hits while striking out eight batters, but was out-dueled by winning pitcher J.A. Happ (10-10). The lefty tossed five innings, allowed five runs on four hits and struck out six.

For more on the Yankees, please be sure to check out our blog Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Andy Pettitte's Return To Mound Uncertain For Yankees

New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte is nearing a return to the diamond, as the next step in his rehabilitation will be to work from the mound. However, there is no time-table for when that will take place.

Still recovering from a broken ankle sustained after being struck with a line drive on June 27, Pettitte stated that he is unsure when he will begin working from the mound.

Manager Joe Girardi was hopeful it would begin sooner than later.

Via New Jersey.com:

"We hope maybe this weekend," said [Girardi]. "Whenever he does get on the mound, the process will have to be accelerated because of the time frame."

With minor league seasons ending in the near future, Girardi stated that Pettitte may have to use simulated games as rehab starts.

For more on the Yankees, please be sure to check out our blog Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

The New York Yankees: Not The Same Old Bronx Bombers

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Yankees Vs. Blue Jays Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers And More

The New York Yankees will look to play the role of the inhospitable host against the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of their series.

After losing a late lead when Rafael Soriano blew the save on Monday, the Bronx Bombers rallied on Tuesday behind a stellar effort from starter Phil Hughes.

Now the pressure falls on CC Sabathia. The big man has 13 wins to his credit and is making his second start since coming off the disabled list. In his last appearance, Sabathia was terrific against the Cleveland Indians, pitching into the eighth inning and allowing a single run in the victory.

When he pitched against Toronto on July 17, the southpaw was dominant in six shutout innings.

Jays left-hander J.A. Happ will have the unenviable task of trying to out-duel Sabathia. Happ has been inconsistent this year with a 4.68 ERA. However the 29-year-old has been putting it all together lately. In his last two starts, Happ has surrendered just two combined runs in 13.1 innings on six hits.

TV: YES

Time: 1:05 p.m. ET

For more on the Yankees, please be sure to check out our blog Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Yankees Vs. Blue Jays: Hughes Strong As Yankees Top Blue Jays, 2-1

One night after dropping a tough 11-inning contest to the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees bounced back with a 2-1 victory over the Jays at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

Phil Hughes went seven innings for the Yankees, giving up one earned run on four hits, providing a break for a bullpen that pitched 4.2 innings in Monday night's loss.

Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher got the scoring started for the Yankees, ripping a single to score Jayson Nix in the third inning. Curtis Granderson added the Yankees' only other run, scoring new addition Steve Pearce from third base on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Pearce batted clean-up for the Yankees in a lineup that lacked first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Yankees relievers David Robertson and Rafael Soriano combined to close out the Blue Jays, as each pitched perfect frames to end the game. Robertson needed just five pitches — all strikes — to retire the side in the eighth. Soriano bounced back from a blown save the previous night.

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Yankees Vs. Blue Jays Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers And More

A night after playing an extra-inning affair, the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays will resume their three-game series at Yankee Stadium Tuesday (7:05 p.m. ET on YES Network). The Yankees will try to rebound from Monday's 8-7 loss in 11 innings, by sending Phil Hughes (12-11) to the mound against Toronto lefty Ricky Romero (8-11).

Hughes will be looking to build off a seven-inning, two-run, five-hit outing last Wednesday, while Romero is trying to rebounding from a eight-walk performance in his last start against the Detroit Tigers.

[Related: Yankees option McGehee to AAA]

The Yankees will be without first baseman Mark Teixeira, who Monday announced he could miss one to two weeks, maybe more, because of a Grade 1 strain in his left calf. The Yankees are expected to use a platoon of players, including newly-acquired first baseman Steve Pearce to fill the void.

For more on the Yankes, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley.

Mark Teixeira Injury: Calf Injury Sidelines Yankees First Baseman

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira estimated Monday he could be out 1-2 weeks, possibly more, with a Grade 1 strain of his left calf. The news came a week after Teixeira returned to the Yankees' lineup after missing three games because of a sore left wrist.

Fortunately, Teixeira's injury came shortly before the Yankees acquired first baseman Steve Pearce from the Houston Astros for cash considerations. New York is expected to replace Teixeira by platooning Pearce, outfielder Nick Swisher, third basemen Eric Chavez and Casey McGehee. Swisher, who has been swinging the bat well lately, will get more of the starts.

"He's been such a backbone to our lineup," Swisher said. "I didn't hear anything on how long he's going to be out for, but for a guy like that to be out of our lineup, man that's a big deal."

For more on Teixeira or the Yankees, make sure to visit the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley.

Yankees-Blue Jays Final Score: Rafael Soriano Blows It In 9th As Yanks Fall 8-7 In Extra Innings

The New York Yankees opened their series against the Toronto Blue Jays Monday night with an 8-7, extra-innings loss at Yankee Stadium.

A blown save by Rafael Soriano in the top of the ninth brought the Jays back from a two-run deficit. Derek Jeter came to the rescue in the Yanks' half of the inning, hitting a solo shot to keep their hopes alive. But an error by Derek Lowe in the 11th would prove to be the difference.

There was more bad news on top of the loss, as first baseman Mark Teixeira left the game in the fourth inning with a strained calf. Teixeira hobbled around the bases, scoring on a single by Russell Martin in the fourth. He immediately went down into the clubhouse tunnel after crossing the plate, and did not return. An MRI was scheduled on Monday night.

The Yankees offense hammered Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez early, knocking him out in the fourth inning. Robinson Cano did the early damage, hitting solo shots in both the first and the fourth innings. The two homers resulted in the ninth multi-homer game of his career, and pushed his career total to 170 -- the most of any Yankee second baseman.

After the Cano lead-off homer, Teixeria drew a walk and came around to score on the Martin single (which went off the shin of Alvarez and forced him out). With Aaron Laffey now in the game, the Yanks would add to the lead when Raul Ibanez sent a ground ball to the right side, scoring Eric Chavez from third to make it 4-1.

The Jays cut into the lead in the next frame, however, as Yorvit Torrealba took David Phelps deep for a two-run blast. Nick Swisher answered in the bottom half by taking a Laffey offering over the left-field wall. Derek Jeter drew a walk to lead off the inning, and the two-run homer by Swisher looked like it would be the difference in the game.

But Soriano gave it up in the top of the ninth. Down to their final out, Colby Rasmus stepped into the box and took a 1-0 pitch deep to right to give the Jays their first lead. It was a second-deck, no-doubter that led to Soriano's third blown save of the season. The Yankee captain was there to pick up his closer, however, leading off the bottom of the ninth with a homer to right off Casey Janssen. Jeter went the other way and deposited it into the first row. Things would remain knotted at 7-7 until the 11th inning, when a costly error by Lowe yielded a Toronto run.

Torrealba led off the 11th with a single and was promptly replaced by pinch runner Mike McCoy. Trying to hold McCoy on first, Lowe threw wild over to the bag and allowed him to move to third. Adeiny Hechavarria then sent a dribbler to Jayson Nix at third, forcing him to charge in on the ball. McCoy, who was not looked back to the bag as Nix made the on-the-run throw to first, scampered home to make it 8-7.

The Yankees will now try to even the series on Tuesday night with Phil Hughes on the hill. The Jays will counter with Ricky Romero.

For more on the Yankees, check out Pinstripe Alley.

Steve Pearce Trade: Yankees Re-Acquire Righty Hitter

The New York Yankees have announced a trade with the Houston Astros that will bring right-handed first baseman and outfielder Steve Pearce to the Bronx in exchange for cash considerations. Pearce had originally begun the 2012 season with the Yankees in their Triple-A affiliate, before heading to Houston.

Pearce has appeared in a total of 234 games since his Major League debut in 2007 with the Pirates. He has a career line of .237/.309/.372 with 12 homers, 74 runs batted in and six steals. The righty has hit slightly better than his career numbers this season, posting an average of .254 with a .729 OPS.

In order to make room for Pearce on the roster, New York has designated Brandon Laird for assignment.

Here is the official news from the Yankees' Twitter feed.

BREAKING: The @yankees have acquired OF/1B Steve Pearce from the Astros in exchange for cash considerations.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 27, 2012

The primary reason for the trade: Pearce has a career line of .277/.347/.484 against left-handed pitchers, which have given the club trouble in recent months. Look for him to be a key pinch hitter off the bench in September and possibly in the playoffs.

For more on the Yankees, check out Pinstripe Alley.

Yankees Vs. Blue Jays Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers And More