Yanks' bullpen falters in loss to Jays'

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Yankees	0	0	1	0	2	1	0	0	0	4	11	1
Blue Jays	1	1	0	0	0	4	2	0	x	8	11	0

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

1

0

2

1

0

0

0

4

11

1

Blue Jays

1

1

0

0

0

4

2

0

x

8

11

0

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

1

0

2

1

0

0

0

4

11

1

Blue Jays

1

1

0

0

0

4

2

0

x

8

11

0

Ivan Nova pitches against the Blue Jays on Sunday. (Getty Images)

The Yankees were unable to finish off a sweep of the Blue Jays on Sunday as they were defeated 8-4 in a game they were once leading in.

Ivan Nova started for the Yankees and he had his typical outing, which consists of a high pitch count early, high number of walks, and a short outing. Nova allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He struck out five and walked four batters. He finished his outing with 101 pitches thrown, in which 56 of them were for strikes. Many people, including myself, were surprised that Nova would stay in the game until the fifth inning. After the first inning, he had already thrown 30 pitches.

The Yankee offense was able to muster out eleven hits in their loss. Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano, Vernon Wells, Jayson Nix, and Chris Stewart all had multi-hit games.

White trailing 2-0 in the third inning, Chris Stewart belted a leadoff home run, which hit off of the right field foul screen. The Yankees would score two more in the fifth inning on two bases loaded walks. Their final run scored would come in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Brett Gardner.

The Yankee bullpen struggled today as Boone Logan failed to record an out on a lefty and David Phelps continued to struggle.

The Yankees and Blue Jays will meet again on Thursday to begin a four game set at Yankee Stadium.

Game 19: Yankees at Blue Jays

Game 19: Yankees at Blue Jays
April 21st, 2013, 1:07 pm ET, Rogers Centre

TV:  YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: The Rogers Centre Roof: Closed

The Yankees and Blue Jays will conclude their three game set today. The Yankees have one the first two games of this series and are looking for the sweep.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees (10-6)
Brett Gardner, CF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Vernon Wells, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Jayson Nix, 3B
Chris Stewart, C

Pitching: Ivan Nova RHP (1-1, 5.59 ERA this season)
(Ivan Nova against the Blue Jays: Click Here)

Blue Jays (7-11)
Munenori Kawasaki, SS
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Adam Lind, DH
J.P. Arencibia, C
Colby Rasmus, CF
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Maicer Izturis, 2B

Pitching: Josh Johnson RHP (0-2, 6.91 ERA this season)
(Josh Johnson against the Yankees: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

After blowing lead, Yankees win in extras

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Yankees	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	11	0
Blue Jays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	7	2

R

H

E

Yankees

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

5

11

0

Blue Jays

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

7

2

R

H

E

Yankees

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

5

11

0

Blue Jays

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

7

2

Hiroki Kuroda pitches against the Blue Jays on Saturday. (Getty Images)

The Yankees were able to come out with a win today as they defeated the Blue Jays 5-3 in eleven inning. What once was a 3-0 lead was washed away in the eighth inning, but the Yankees recovered and scored two in the eleventh. inning. Hiroki Kuroda was outstanding again today as he gave them a stellar outing.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed one run on three hits in seven and a third innings of work. He struck out seven and walked only one. Kuroda finished his outing with 108 pitches thrown, in which 64 of them were for strikes.

David Robertson replaced Kuroda with one out in the seventh and surrendered three runs, which tied the game at three.

The bullpen, excluding Robertson, was solid today. Joba Chamberlain was electric as his fastball hit 98 on the radar gun, which was backed up with a hard slider. Boone Logan did a good job today as well as Shawn Kelley.

The Yankee offense got on the board in the second inning when Vernon Wells lined a solo shot off of the right field foul screen. They would tack on two more runs in the fifth inning on a Kevin Youkilis two-run single.

With the game tied at three in the eleventh inning, the Yankees had runners on first and second with no outs. Francisco Cervelli was on first and Vernon Wells was on second as they both reached on singles. Ichiro Suzuki was up and he laid down a bunt that was fielding cleanly by Aaron Loup. Loup tried to get the lead runner at third base, but threw the ball wide of the bag. Vernon Wells and Francisco Cervelli would both score on the throwing error.

Mariano Rivera came on in the eleventh inning and locked down his fifth save of the season.

The Yankees and Blue Jays will complete their three game set tomorrow afternoon

Kevin Youkilis exits game due to lower back stiffness

Kevin Youkilis was removed from Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays due to lower back stiffness. Youkilis did not come out to first base for the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Youkilis lined a two-run single to left field in the top of the fifth inning, and there were no signs of any pain or discomfort.

With another game tomorrow afternoon on the turf at Rogers Centre, it is likely that Youkilis will be given the day off. Let it be said that once they leave Toronto, the team will travel to Tampa Bay to play three more games on a turf field.

Kevin Youkilis dealt with some back problems last year and appeared in 122 games for the Red Sox and White Sox.

Game 18: Yankees at Blue Jays

Game 18: Yankees at Blue Jays
April 20th, 2013, 1:07 pm ET, Rogers Centre

TV:  YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: The Rogers Centre Roof: Closed

After playing the opener last night, the Yankees and Blue Jays will continue their three-game set this afternoon.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees (9-6)
Brett Gardner, CF
Ben Francisco, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Vernon Wells, LF
Francisco Cervelli, C
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Jayson Nix, 3B

Pitching: Hiroki Kuroda RHP (2-1, 2.87 ERA this season)
(Hiroki Kuroda against the Blue Jays: Click Here)

Blue Jays (7-10)
Rajai Davis, RF
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Bautista, DH
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
J.P. Arencibia, C
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Colby Rasmus, CF
Maicer Izturis, 2B
Munenori Kawasaki, SS

Pitching: Mark Buehrle LHP (1-0, 7.31 ERA this season)
(Mark Buehrle against the Yankees: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!