Burnett, Wells lead Blue Jays to victory over Yanks

A.J. Burnett pitched 6 stifling innings and Vernon Wells had three hits, including a two run homer to help Toronto defeat the Yankees, 5-2. Burnett allowed 5 hits and struck out 3, winning his first start of the year. Three straight Blue Jays reached base to start the game, with Alex Rios driving in David Eckstein to start the scoring for Toronto. Vernon Wells hit his two run shot in the third after Rios walked with two outs to extend the lead to 3-0. Rbi singles by Aaron Hill and Rios in the sixth and 7th innings rounded out the scoring for the Blue Jays.

While the Blue Jays were tagging Yankee starter Mike Mussina, Burnett was cruising, catching the Yankees bats off guard with an assortment of pitches to take advantage of their weaknesses. After only allowing 4 singles over the first 6 innings, Burnett made his lone mistake in the seventh when Alex Rodriguez belted a 2 run homer to center field to bring the Yankees into the game. Burnett was pulled after the homer, giving way to a talented Toronto bullpen.

Brian Tallet relieved Burnett, striking out Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi in the process, while also forcing Hideki Matsui into a ground out to send the game to the 8th inning. With the score heading into the bottom of the eighth, 5-2, Tallet kept his already solid performance going, breezing through the #9,1, and 2 hitters in the Yankee order, giving the Yankess one last chance to make a comeback in the ninth.

The Yankees first two runners of the ninth, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu reached with singles off Blue Jays closer, Jeremy Accardo. Accardo got the major threat out of the way, striking out Alex Rodriguez swinging after a heated battle. With one out, Jason Giambi flied out to deep center, prompting ESPN announcer, Orel Hersheiser to note, “he didn’t have enough juice on that one” (the comment is appropriate in more ways than one). Robinson Cano ended the game by flying out to the left fielder, sending the Yankees one game behind the Sox for first place.