Yankees Steal One In 9th

Tonight's Yankees-Toronto Blue Jays game looked like most other Yankees games these days. Fall behind, stay behind, lose. Maybe tease with a run or two late. But tonight was different, down 4-3 and down to their last out in the bottom of the 9th, Curtis Granderson singled home Chris Dickerson with the tying run. Moments later after Granderson had stolen second base, Mark Teixeira singled off the glove of first baseman Juan Rivera to give the Yankees a huge 5-4 victory.

After a Russell Martin home run gave the Yankees an early 1-0 lead, things went south for CC Sabathia. Tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Blue Jays took the lead on an J.P. Arencibia double and a Rivera single. One out later, back to back singles by Edwin Encarnacion and Rajai Davis produced a third Toronto run and John McDonald made it a 4-1 lead with a suicide squeeze bunt.

Two batters later the Jays had the bases loaded and the team's top hitter, Jose Bautista at the plate. It was a make or break at-bat and Sabathia came out on top, getting the slugger to ground out to end the inning. Meanwhile the Yankees couldn't do a thing against Jays' starter Rickey Romero, who turned things over to the bullpen. It was the best thing to happen for the Yankees all night.

Granderson led off the 8th with a double off Casey Janssen and scored on a two out double by Robinson Cano off lefty Marc Rzepczynski . Martin brought home Cano with an RBI single and suddenly the Yankees had themselves a ball game. But Rzepczynski got Nick Swisher to pop out to end the 8th.

After Sabathia retired the Jays in order in the 9th, and the final 16 batters he faced, Jorge Posada delivered a pinch-hit one out double off closer Frank Francisco. Posada's gapper to right-center eluded a sliding Bautista, who still might have thrown Posada out at second base if his throw hadn't gone to the cut off man. With Dickerson attempting to steal third base, Derek Jeter bounced out to short and Dickerson momentarily thought about making a break for home. Thankfully for the Yankees, Dickerson left the game in the hands of Granderson and Teixeira.

Notes

CC Sabathia's complete game win was the first for a Yankees pitcher since May 8, 2009.