Yankees lose seventh straight at The Stadium
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jeff Weaver unraveled after an error by Alfonso
Soriano and the Toronto Blue Jays completed their first four-game
sweep over the Yankees, winning 5-3 on Sunday and sending New York to
its seventh straight home loss.
The Yankees dropped their season-high fourth in a row overall, a
skid that has dropped them out of the AL East lead. And their slump
at Yankee Stadium is their worst since they lost 10 straight in
1986. New York has lost 11 of the last 12 at home.
Now, what had shaped up as a festive afternoon in the Bronx on
Monday has become a little more desperate for the Yankees. While
Roger Clemens will make his first try at earning his 300th career
victory, he'll also try to stop the division-leading Boston Red
Sox.
Greg Myers hit a two-run double and Josh Phelps also drove in
two runs as the Blue Jays finished off an 8-2 road trip. The sweep
over the Yankees came in Toronto's 27th season.
Yankees manager Joe Torre dramatically changed his lineup,
trying to spark his floundering team. Derek Jeter did fine as the
new leadoff man, hitting a home run and a single, and Soriano went
2-for-5 with a solo homer in the ninth while hitting in the third
slot for the first time in his major league career.
Doug Davis (2-3), claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays on April
30 after being cut by Texas, pitched five innings and ended his
three-game losing streak. He held New York to one run, working
around six hits and two walks.
Toronto used four relievers, with Cliff Politte getting his
eighth save.
The Yankees stranded 12 runners, including at least one in every
inning. New York also got a hit in every inning.
The Blue Jays helped themselves by playing errorless ball.
Shortstop Chris Woodward made the most sparkling play, going far
into the hole to field Jeter's grounder and getting a forceout that
ended the eighth.
Weaver (3-3) blanked the Blue Jays on one single through three
innings. But after Soriano fumbled Frank Catalanotto's leadoff
grounder to second base in the fourth, Weaver fell apart.
Weaver walked Vernon Wells on a 3-1 count and hit Carlos Delgado
with a pitch. Myers, who has not hit a grand slam in 77 career
at-bats with the bases loaded, grounded a two-run double down the
first-base line for a 2-1 lead.
Phelps followed with a sacrifice fly and Orlando Hudson hit an
RBI single to make it 4-1.
Delgado doubled to open the sixth, moved up on Myers' sharp
single and scored on Phelps' single, chasing Weaver.
Jorge Posada homered leading off the New York second. Jeter
greeted reliever Pete Walker with a home run in the seventh.
Game notes
Blue Jays OF Shannon Stewart sat out because of tightness
in both hamstrings. He's day to day. ... Two Toronto pitchers were
hit by batted balls. Davis was struck in the arm by Soriano's sharp
grounder, but recovered to throw him out in the first. Tanyon
Sturtze was hit in the foot by Todd Zeile's liner in the sixth.
Zeile got a single and Sturtze stayed in the game. ... Soriano
batted leadoff in the Yankees' first 49 games. ... Weaver has one
win in his last six starts. ... The Blue Jays are the only team in
the majors without a sacrifice bunt this year. After Hudson doubled
to start the ninth, Dave Berg tried to bunt but fouled it off.
TOR Wins 4-0
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Fieldin Culbreth
- First Base Umpire - Wally Bell
- Second Base Umpire - Terry Craft
- Third Base Umpire - Marty Foster