Yanks Salvage Series Finale From Pesky Blue Jays

Later tonight, I'll have a piece on Derek Jeter's 40th Birthday. Tomorrow, before the start of the Yanks-Sox series, I'll have one on the U.S. performance at the World Cup.

Last night, the Yankees really needed a win against the 1st-place Toronto Blue Jays, because the preceding 4 games had been horrible.

The Yankees got 4 runs in the top of the 3rd inning, in response to ex-Met Jose Reyes hitting a home run, and that proved to be enough. Kelly Johnson led off with a walk, and Francisco Cervelli doubled him home. After Brett Gardner popped up and Jeter struck out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled home Cervelli, and then Mark Teixeira hit one out, his 14th home run of the season. Teix added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the 7th.

Hiroki Kuroda started for the Yankees, and put up a decent performance: 6 1/3rd innings, 3 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks. Shawn Kelley, Matt Thornton and Adam Warren each got 1 out -- which is 1 more than I'd trust any of them for at this point. David Robertson put up a 5-out save.

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3. WP: Kuroda (5-5). SV: Robertson (18). LP: Drew Hutchison (5-6).

Day off today. The Scum come in tomorrow. Here are the pitching matchups:

Tomorrow night, 7:05 PM: Vidal Nuno vs. Brandon Workman.

Saturday, 7:15 PM: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Jon Lester.

Sunday, 8:05 PM: Chase Whitley vs. John Lackey.

Come on you Pinstripes!