Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Vernon Wells doubled, homered and drove in two, as the Toronto Blue Jays held on for an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series.
The Blue Jays scored seven runs in the fifth inning off Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (9-9) before New York chipped away at its deficit. The Yankees had chances to potentially draw even, but the Toronto bullpen held on, making a winner of Brandon Morrow (8-6). The Blue Jays starter allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings, and struck out nine.
Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Toronto, which snapped a two-game slide.
Nick Swisher homered twice and Mark Teixeira added a two-run shot, but the Yankees lost their second in a row and fell into a tie with Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East. The Rays beat Minnesota on Monday.
Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-5 to remain stuck on 599 career homers.
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