Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning, as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Blue Jays, 4-3, and avoid a sweep in the finale of this three-game series.
Brandon Morrow held the Yankees scoreless through seven innings, but New York scored all its runs in the eighth to take the come-from-behind win. Brett Gardner scored on a wild pitch, while Derek Jeter had an RBI double.
Javier Vazquez (5-5) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Vernon Wells hit a two-out, two-run homer to put Toronto in front. But Vazquez still took the win, as he allowed just that hit in seven innings and struck out nine. Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.
Morrow was as impressive as Vazquez, striking out eight, allowing four hits and walking one in seven full innings. He remained in the contest to start the eighth and was taken out after hitting Francisco Cervelli to start the frame.
Scott Downs (1-5) came in and hit Gardner before Jeter slapped a double down the right field line to bring in Cervelli for a 2-1 game. The hit left runners on second and third with nobody out.
Jason Frasor took over on the mound and got Nick Swisher swinging for the first out. An intentional walk to Mark Teixeira loaded the bases to set up a double play, but only briefly, as a wild pitch allowed Gardner to race home to tie the contest.
Frasor rebounded to catch Alex Rodriguez looking at strike three, though he was not able to keep it a 2-2 game, as Cano dumped a single into left field to plate two. The Yankees loaded the bases again, but Rommie Lewis got Cervelli to line out to end the inning.
Toronto got one of the runs back in the bottom half, which Jose Molina led off by hitting a fly to center. The ball glanced off the tip of Curtis Granderson’s glove, and Molina reached second. Fred Lewis followed with a single to center, and Molina chugged home to get the Blue Jays within a run. However, the rally was effectively ended when Aaron Hill grounded into a double play.
The long inning continued as the Yankees went for a pitching change, and Rivera trotted in from the bullpen. However, Rivera was sent back as bench coach Tony Pena — acting as manager for Joe Girardi, who was ejected for arguing in the top half — wanted the left-hander Damaso Marte to face Adam Lind. The move worked, as Marte struck out Lind to send the game to the ninth.
Rivera actually did come out for the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning.
The game was scoreless through the first five innings, and while Vazquez walked three over that span, he did not allow a hit. His no-hit bid was still intact after he walked a fourth batter, Lind, with two outs in the sixth.
Wells came up next, and Vazquez got him in an 0-2 count before throwing a hanging slider on the outer part of the plate. Wells extended to reach the pitch and crushed it to left field to end Vazquez’s no-hit bid and give Toronto a 2-0 lead.
The Yankees have not been swept in a series of three or more games this season…Cano finished 3-for-4 and is hitting .363 this season…The Blue Jays’ last sweep of the Yankees, in a series of three or more games, was May 22-25, 2003 in New York. They have not swept the Yankees at home since September 19-21, 2000…Wells’ homer was his 15th of the season, equaling his 2009 total. It also extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest active streak in the majors…Toronto leads the majors with 97 home runs…The Blue Jays ended a nine-game homestand (6-3) and begin a nine-game road trip Tuesday at Tampa Bay.