The New York Yankees' hopes of gaining an automatic playoff spot
suffered a setback with a 4-1 home defeat by the Toronto Blue Jays
on Monday.
The result left the Yankees trailing American League East
Division leaders the Boston Red Sox by two games.
"You could definitely tell it was a makeup game," Yankees losing
pitcher Andy Pettitte told reporters. "We just weren't able to get
much going. Their guy threw the ball well, and unfortunately, I
gave up those three runs early. That was really the ballgame."
Pettitte was filling in for Roger Clemens, who was nursing a
slight hamstring injury. He allowed four runs and five hits over
six innings in the Yankees' final home game of the regular
season.
Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch, a late stand-in for AJ Burnett,
tied the Yankees down by throwing five scoreless innings. He
allowed five hits and one run over seven-plus innings.
"I got told (Sunday) night," Litsch told reporters when asked
about the pitching change. "So, I was just trying to go out and
just pitch my game."
The Yankees, who have six games remaining, should still make the
post-season through a wildcard place by finishing second in the
division. The New Yorkers are comfortably clear of nearest rivals
the Detroit Tigers.
*The Minnesota Twins shut out Detroit 2-0 to all but eliminate
the defending American League champions from the post-season. One
more Detroit loss or Yankees win would end the Tigers' playoff
hopes.
*Marlon Byrd's two-run homer in the sixth inning led the Texas
Rangers to an 8-7 home defeat of the Los Angeles Angels, who a day
earlier had wrapped up the AL West title.
Prince Fielder hit his league-leading 48th home run and
Milwaukee moved within three games of first place in the NL Central
with a 13-5 victory against St Louis on Monday night.
Brewers manager Ned Yost was ejected for the second consecutive
day even though his team gained a half-game on Chicago, who was off
Monday, in the division. Chicago's magic number - the combination
of Cubs wins and Brewers losses needed to clinch the division title
- remained at four.
Milwaukee scored four runs off starter Adam Wainwright (13-12)
before he got his first out of the game. The four-run first
included a three-run homer by Fielder.
Milwaukee added five runs in the fifth and three in the sixth,
including a a two-run homer by rookie Ryan Braun, his 33rd.
Brewers starter Dave Bush (12-10) gave up five runs in 6 2-3
innings.
Albert Pujols, who had missed five straight starts because of a
strained left calf muscle, started and went 0-for-3 with a
walk.
(China Daily via Agencies September 26, 2007)