(Sports Network) - Today's finale between the Yankees and Blue Jays will be an extra special matchup, as the Bronx Bombers will be celebrating the 80th birthday of owner George Steinbrenner.
In a tribute to Steinbrenner the team will display all seven World Series trophies won under his ownership.
Surprisingly, however, the Yankees have struggled at home recently, going just 5-6 in their last 11 matchups at Yankee Stadium. despite the lackluster effort in front of the home crowd, New York is still an impressive 27-13 in the Bronx.
Fortunately for the Yankees they are sending Phil Hughes to the hill and he has been outstanding at home this year. In eight starts at Yankee Stadium, the hard-throwing right-hander has accumulated a 6-1 record with a 4.38 earned run average.
However, the lone home loss for Hughes came in his last start, as the young hurler was defeated by Seattle. In the loss to the Mariners, Hughes was tattooed for seven runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits in just 5 2/3 innings of work.
The loss stopped a five-game winning streak for Hughes, who will be making his fifth career start against Toronto. Hughes has made 12 overall appearances against the Blue Jays in his young career and is 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, and also saved one contest in that time.
As for the Blue Jays, they will counter with their own hard-throwing right-hander in Brandon Morrow, who has struggled of late, winning just once in his last five matchups.
The last time Morrow was on the rubber he suffered his sixth loss on the year, as he was defeated by Cleveland. In the setback to the Indians the California native surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in six innings.
Pitching on the road has been a nightmare for Morrow, who is winless in eight starts outside of Toronto. Along with his 0-5 ledger, he has an equally poor 6.69 earned run average.
Morrow, who is a product of the University of California, has made nine appearances against the Yankees, but only three of them are starts. Earlier this season the young hurler tossed seven solid innings against the Yanks, allowing just one run, while striking out eight batters.
On Saturday, Brett Gardner hit his first career grand slam during New York's game-altering 11-run third inning, helping the Yankees roll to an 11-3 rout.
Alex Rodriguez drove in four runs, while Mark Teixeira doubled twice and knocked in a pair for the Yanks, who had lost four of six coming in.
The offensive outburst was more than enough behind Andy Pettitte (10-2), who gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over a six-inning start.
Toronto's Ricky Romero (6-5) saw his earned-run average rise by over a half- run, yielding eight runs on seven hits and two walks in only 2 2/3 innings, the shortest outing of the young left-hander's brief career.
Jose Bautista hit his 21st home run of the season and Alex Gonzalez added a solo blast for the Blue Jays, who snapped a five-game skid in the opener of this three-game series with an 11-inning win on Friday.