New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova works against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB action in Toronto on Saturday, August 11, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
August 11, 2012 - 4:22 PM
TORONTO - Casey McGehee belted a three-run homer as the New York Yankees beat Toronto 5-2 on Saturday afternoon, handing the Blue Jays their fifth straight loss.
Right-hander Ivan Nova (11-6) fanned 10 to earn New York (67-46) its fourth straight win before a Rogers Centre sellout of 45,582.
Nova held Toronto to five hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings as New York remained atop the American League East standings. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 28th save.
Left-hander Aaron Laffey (3-3) allowed seven hits, four walks and five runs over 5 2/3 innings for Toronto (53-60), which is last in the AL East.
Nova came in looking for his first win since July 8. Since claiming a victory at Boston, he was 0-3 with an 8.36 earned-run average in five starts before Saturday's game.
McGehee belted his first homer of the season in the fourth following a run-scoring single by former Blue Jay Jayson Nix. Mark Teixeira led off the inning with a single before Andruw Jones walked with one out.
Nova retired the first nine Blue Jays he faced before Rajai Davis led off the fourth with a single, took second on a balk and scored on a single by Edwin Encarnacion.
Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch but Nova finished the inning with a strikeout and groundout.
McGehee doubled with one out in the sixth before Derek Jeter doubled with two out to put the Yankees ahead 5-1. After Nick Swisher walked, left-hander Aaron Loup replaced Laffey and retired Teixeira on a grounder to third.
Both teams received a warning from plate umpire Jim Joyce after Escobar was hit for the second plate appearance in a row in the bottom of the sixth. It came after Encarnacion walked but David Cooper's grounder forced Escobar at second and second baseman Robinson Cano made a fine play to end the inning on a Moises Sierra grounder.
Davis led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and stole third with one out. He scored on an infield hit by Encarnacion and David Robertson replaced Nova. Robertson induced an inning-ending double play from Omar Vizquel, who hit for Escobar.
The Jays said Escobar left the game for precautionary reasons with a sore elbow the result of being hit by a pitch.
NOTES: Toronto centre-fielder Colby Rasmus is day-to-day after aggravating a groin injury in Friday night's 10-4 loss to the Yankees. Anthony Gose started in centre Saturday . . . Utility player Mike McCoy was promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas with right-hander David Carpenter being demoted . . . The sellout was the third of the season at Rogers Centre . . . Ichiro Suzuki's five runs-batted in Friday matched his career high. It marked the third time he had accomplished the feat but first since 2004 . . . Left-hander J.A. Happ (0-1, 6.35 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday for Toronto, facing right-hander Phil Hughes (11-9, 4.10 ERA).
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012