Recap: NY Yankees vs. Toronto
Sports Network | August 29, 2008
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Carl Pavano was stellar on the mound to win his first game at Yankee Stadium since April 26, 2005, as New York edged Toronto, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set. Pavano (2-0) yielded just a run on three hits over six innings to notch his second victory in as many tries since being recalled last Saturday for a start against Baltimore. It was just the 21st start for the oft-injured, right- hander since signing a four-year deal worth close to $40 million prior to the start of the 2005 campaign. Bobby Abreu went 2-for-4, scored a run and had an RBI for the Yankees, who have won two straight to remain six games behind Boston in the Wild Card race. The Red Sox beat the White Sox on Friday. Jason Giambi drove in the other run for New York. A.J. Burnett (16-10) was the hard-luck loser as he pitched all eight innings and was touched for just two runs on seven hits while fanning eight and walking one batter. Marco Scutaro drove in the lone run for Toronto, which has dropped three straight and six of nine overall. Travis Snider, who had his contract purchased by the club from Triple-A Syracuse following Thursday's loss, went 1-for-3 with a double and scored a run in defeat. Holding a one-run advantage, Yankees relievers worked in and out of trouble in the eighth. Jose Veras surrendered a leadoff ground-rule double to Rod Barajas and then walked Scott Rolen before Edwar Ramirez was called on in relief. Snider was caught looking at the third strike and Mariano Rivera was summoned from the pen. Rivera got Joe Inglett to ground into a fielder's choice, leaving runners at the corners, and Scutaro went down swinging to end the threat. Rivera worked around a Vernon Wells single in the ninth to record his seventh save of three-plus outs on the year and 32nd overall. NY broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Johnny Damon led off with a single and stole second. Derek Jeter went down swinging, but Abreu came through with an RBI double. Alex Rodriguez then put runners on the corners with a single and Giambi's sac fly plated Abreu to make it 2-0. Toronto rallied in the sixth to cut the lead in half. Snider had a one-out ground-rule double to left, the first hit of his career, and came around two batters later as Scutaro singled to center. Game Notes Robinson Cano went 2-for-3, notching his 37th career multi-hit game...Rivera had retired 27 straight batters before the single in the ninth. He now has 30- plus saves in six consecutive seasons...Burnett had won six straight and eight of his last nine decisions, including a pair of impressive victories over the Yankees, prior to Friday's setback...Rodriguez has three hits in his last 16 at-bats with five strikeouts...Starting with Friday's win, the Yankees have their home games equipped with Major League Baseball's replay system, offering umpires an additional look at any close home run calls -- fair or foul, in or out of the ballpark, or with fan interference...The Yanks took a 7-6 lead in the season series...Toronto designated DH Matt Stairs for assignment after Thursday's loss and completed a trade to send him to Philadelphia for a player to be named later. The club purchased Snider's contract from Syracuse as a corresponding roster move...On Friday, Major League Baseball suspended Yankees minor league pitchers Justo Arias and Rafael Martinez for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Game Notes Robinson Cano went 2-for-3, notching his 37th career multi-hit game...Rivera had retired 27 straight batters before the single in the ninth. He now has 30- plus saves in six consecutive seasons...Burnett had won six straight and eight of his last nine decisions, including a pair of impressive victories over the Yankees, prior to Friday's setback...Rodriguez has three hits in his last 16 at-bats with five strikeouts...Starting with Friday's win, the Yankees have their home games equipped with Major League Baseball's replay system, offering umpires an additional look at any close home run calls -- fair or foul, in or out of the ballpark, or with fan interference...The Yanks took a 7-6 lead in the season series...Toronto designated DH Matt Stairs for assignment after Thursday's loss and completed a trade to send him to Philadelphia for a player to be named later. The club purchased Snider's contract from Syracuse as a corresponding roster move...On Friday, Major League Baseball suspended Yankees minor league pitchers Justo Arias and Rafael Martinez for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
