The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees meet for the second contest of a three-game series Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
Toronto captured a 7-3 series-opening victory over New York at Yankee Stadium Monday night and was paced by outfielder Jose Bautista’s 19th home run. The Blue Jays broke open the game with a five-run sixth inning and pushed their record to a game over .500, while evening its mark to 3-3 in the season series. It’s important to note that the club has now tallied a 6-8 mark in New York since the start of the 2009 campaign. Toronto also debuted shortstop Yunel Escobar in the cleanup role, as the squad has now used four players in that slot since first baseman Adam Lind went down with a back injury on May 7. Lind is expected to be the designated hitter in an extended spring game Wednesday. Toronto is 17-9 in night games this season.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero is 4-4 with a 3.10 ERA in nine starts this season and is looking to capture his third win in a row. The left-hander is coming off two brilliant performances agains the Twins and Rays, allowing just a single run and seven hits over 15 2/3 innings. Romero has been solid on the road, producing an even 2-2 mark and 3.00 ERA, holding opponents to a .216 average. In seven career games versus the Yankees, he has registered a 3-2 record and 5.31 ERA, including a 5-3 road win on April 29. He surrendered two runs and five hits over six innings in that particular contest.
New York failed to homer at Yankee Stadium for the sixth time in 28 games this season and second baseman Robinson Cano drove in all three runs in defeat. The Yankees still lead the Majors with 71 home runs and have six players who each have at least six round trippers on the season. The club is now 2-2 versus Toronto at Yankee Stadium in 2011, after registering a 5-4 mark at home in the series last season. New York has produced a 7-6 record versus left-handed starters this season and 83-54 the last three years.
Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia will be making his 11th start of the 2011 campaign, bringing in a winning 4-3 record and 3.06 ERA. New York has alternated wins and losses over his last five starts and he enters off an impressive 13-2 win at Baltimore. The left-hander tossed eight shutout innings and scattered seven hits in that particular contest, while failing to issue a single walk and striking out nine. Sabathia has made 12 career starts versus the Blue Jays, posting a 9-3 mark and 3.11 ERA.
Bettors will likely back the Yankees due to their 25-7 record in Sabathia’s last 32 home starts, while the Blue Jays are 8-11 versus division opponents
