Yanks Beat Jays 11-4, Magic Number Down To Five

Now that we’re down to the final six games of the season, it’s all about keeping pace for the Yankees and they did that tonight with an 11-4 victory over the Blue Jays. With tonight’s victory they maintain their one-game lead over Baltimore in the American League East standings.

Nick Swisher got things started for the Yankees in the first inning with a two-run double that gave them an early 2-0 lead. The Yanks added another run in the third inning when Derek Jeter grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and Raul Ibanez scored from third.

After the Blue Jays scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Yankees lead to 3-1, Russell Martin hit his 20th home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Yanks a 6-1 in the sixth.

The Yankees continued to tack on runs, with the final blow coming off the bat of Eric Chavez who hit a two-run, opposite field home run in the ninth. It was Chavez’s 15th home run of the year. He’s the ninth Yankee player to reach the 15 home run plateau this season. That ties the major league record with the 2005 Indians and Rangers.

Hiroki Kuroda, wasn’t sharp tonight. In fact, he was pretty lucky to have only given up two runs because he allowed 10 hits through 5.1 innings. Tonight’s outing was his shortest start since all the way back on May 21. Despite the so-so outing, Kuroda was aided by his offense and earned his 15th win of the year.

Derek Jeter hit his major league leading 209th hit tonight. Every Yankee starter had at least one hit – the Yankees had 13 in total.

UPDATE: As I was writing the recap it was reported that Robinson Cano was getting x-rays on his left hand. He was hit with a pitch in the sixth inning of tonight’s game.

Meredith Marakovits reported on Twitter that Cano left the clubhouse with ice on his hand. Losing Cano would be devastating for the Yankees so let’s all cross our fingers and pray (if you do that sort of thing) that nothing is broken.

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