Tune in at 1:07 PM ET as the Yankees take on the Blue Jays. Ian Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to today's Score liveblog between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. Here are your starting lineups:
New York Yankees (66-46)
Jeter DH
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Jones LF
Granderson CF
Nix SS
McGehee 3B
Stewart C
SP: Ivan Nova (10-6, 4.81 ERA)
Toronto Blue Jays (53-59)
Davis LF
Gose CF
Encarnacion DH
Escobar SS
Cooper 1B
Sierra RF
Johnson 2B
Gomes C
Hechavarria 3B
SP: Aaron Laffey (3-2, 4.39 ERA)
With the loss last night, the Blue Jays have now lost four consecutive games and are 2-8 in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays haven't won a series since taking 2 of 3 back at the end of July against the Detroit Tigers.
Today marks the 60th day the New York Yankees have had sole possession of the AL East Division lead. It marks the longest streak they've held the division since 2009 when the Yankees held the lead for 74 games down the stretch.
Ivan Nova goes to the hill this afternoon against the Blue Jays, and he'll be making his 5th career start against the Blue Jays and his 3rd at the Rogers Centre. Nova has had a rough go as of late, as he's 0-3 record with a 8.36 ERA in his past 5 starts. Nova was knocked around for 8 runs against the Tigers in his last start on Monday.
Aaron Laffey continues to do a decent job as a stopgap arm in the starting rotation for the Blue Jays. He has thrown at last 6 innings in 5 of his past 8 starts, and has 4 quality starts this season for Toronto.
Injury update: Colby Rasmus is not in the Blue Jays lineup today, as he was lifted late last night after he re-aggrivated his groin injury from a few weeks ago. He is currently day to day, and he probably won't do on the disabled list.
The Blue Jays already have a Major League leading 12 players in the DL.
The Blue Jays had 2 errors on the board which were very costly, but the Yankees have posted just 2 errors in the past 16 games. The Yankees also had a 13 game errorless streak in July.
A few changes to the lineup today: Curtis Granderson is in the lineup today after sitting the game yesterday, but came in as a late-game defensive replacement. Granderson plays centre and will bat 6th behind Andruw Jones.
It's overcast, with a little bit of rain in Toronto today, so the roof will remain closed. These are the days where fans are thankful there's a retractable roof stadium in Toronto.
Fun fact: Aaron Laffey's ERA in night games is 3.88 compared to a 5.35 ERA in day games.
Derek Jeter leads off for the Yankees, and bats DH today. He currently leads the AL with 148 hits, and that ranks 2nd in all of baseball.
Jeter has basically been on a year-long streak dating back to last July when he came off the DL. Going back to July 7th, he has the third most hits in the majors behind Miguel Cabrera and Melky Cabrera.
Laffey with a full count on Jeter, fastball was up and away to push it to 3-2.
And then Aaron Laffey goes with the cut fastball, mid 80's and Jeter whiffs on it. Strikeout to start off the game. Jeter knew he was hacking, and heads back to the dugout.
Nick Swisher batting from the right side here against Aaron Laffey. He's out ahead 2-0.
Swisher hits a bouncing ball over to Hechavarria over to third base, it bounces off his glove, but he has time to pick up the ball, plant, and throw to get Swisher.
Cooper has to move over to his right to make the catch, and manages to get a foot on the bag there.
Back to back switch-hitters batting from the right side in today's Yankees lineup: first Nick Swisher, and now Mark Texieira with a 2-1 count.
Hechavarria with a rolling grounder, easy play as he throws from the hot corner to get Tex. 3 up, 3 down for the Yankees.
Not surprising that Joe Girardi switched around his switch hitters to bat from the right side today. Righties hit .296 career off of Aaron Laffey compared to .267 hit by lefties.
@Al Well, I guess the one positive side affect is the young players are getting lots of playing time. Gose, Sierra, Hechavarria, etc.
Rajai Davis is taken care of very easily by Ivan Nova - slider in the dirt, and Davis goes after it and misses on the strikeout to start off the Jays half.
Anthony Gose goes from hitting 9th last night, to 2nd today. Gose picked up back-to-back stolen bases in last night's game.
Back to back K's by Ivan Nova: another breaking ball in the dirt, as Anthony Gose swings and misses as well. Not a good start to the game for the Blue Jays hitters.
Edwin Encarnacion skies one out to centre field, Curtis Granderson parked under it to make the catch. It's a loud out, but an out nonetheless as Nova needs only 11 pitches to take care of Toronto.
Due up for the Bronx Bombers: it's Cano, Jones and Granderson.
Robinson Cano breaks hits bat on the off-speed pitch by Laffey, and Hechavarria comes in to make the play on the rolling ball. He's seeing lots of action at the hot corner already.
Andruw Jones batting 5th for the Yankees, playing his 2nd straight game against the Blue Jays. Laffey has a 2-2 count on him.
Laffey leaves a fastball in, which Andruw Jones sends to deep centre field. Gose makes the play short of the warning track.
Aaron Laffey lets a fastball go way inside to Curtis Granderson, and it plunks him right on the back of the shoulder, above his number 14. Curtis trots down to first and takes his free pass.
Adeiny Hechavarria getting lots of work today - picking up his 4th putout of the day, off the bat of Jayson Nix. They go to first for the force out, on to the home half!
