New York Yankees (53-36) At Toronto Blue Jays (46-47), 7:07 P.M.

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New York Yankees veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia has been surprisingly good thus far in 2011, posting a 7-6 record but pitching to a sparkling 3.13 ERA, about 1.5 runs per game better than a season ago. Garcia has quality starts in his last five outings and eight of his last nine.

The Yankees need Garcia to continue that streak of excellence Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. On Thursday, the Yankees were routed, 16-7, and starting pitcher Bartolo Colon did not make it out of the first inning as Toronto scored eight times. Thus, the Yankees need Garcia to be effective this evening.

"It's hard to figure what to make of that start because we didn't play that good of a defense behind him," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "You don't make too much of one game, but it wasn't a good game on our part."

Garcia and the Yankees might catch one break as Toronto slugger Jose Bautista, the major-league leader with 31 home runs, is day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game with an ankle injury.

The Yankees are now 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.