Big Hurt propels Jays past Yanks in ninth

Sep 14, 2007, 2:14 GMT

Toronto, ON - Frank Thomas drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the New York Yankees, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

In the ninth, with Chris Britton (0-1) starting on the mound for the Yankees, Alex Rios led off with a single, stole second, and then crossed the plate when Thomas hit a single up the middle to win the game.

Thomas drove in both runs while Russ Adams also scored a run for the Blue Jays, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Scott Downs (3-2) got the win for getting two outs in the ninth. A.J. Burnett was stellar in the start, as he gave up just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Johnny Damon got the Yankees only run on a solo home run, while Ian Kennedy was equally strong in the start. Kennedy gave up just one run on one hit with four walks and seven strikeouts in eight innings of work for New York, which had a seven-game winning streak stopped.

'Both teams pitched great,' said Yankees manager Joe Torre. 'Kennedy was remarkable tonight. What a great start for this kid. What can you say we had a couple of opportunities late and we just didn't capitalize. You'd like to think you can win every game, but we can't do that.'

New York now sits 5 1/2 games behind Boston for first place in the AL East and saw its lead for the wild card shrink to 3 1/2 games ahead of Detroit.

The Yankees begin a three-game series in Boston starting on Friday.

The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Adams worked a one-out walk and, after Rios flied out, Thomas brought him home on a double to right- center.

The Yankees tied the game in the sixth when Damon hit a 2-1 changeup over the right field fence, a one-out, solo homer that was his 11th of the season. Derek Jeter followed with a single and Bobby Abreu then walked, but Alex Rodriguez struck out and Hideki Matsui lined out to end the inning.

After giving up the double to Thomas in the first, Kennedy retired the next 15 batters before giving up a two-out walk to Adams in the sixth.

The Yankees had runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, but Downs got Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera to ground out and end the inning.

Game Notes

The Blue Jays begin a three-game set as they host Baltimore beginning on Friday...New York has won eight of 14 games against Toronto this season...Attendance was 32,632.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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