Burnett gets Yanks back in groove
NEW YORK - Pitcher A.J. Burnett quickly got the New York Yankees back to their winning ways yesterday, helping them to their eighth win in nine games.
Burnett scattered six hits over seven innings, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez homered, and the Yankees opened the long holiday weekend with a 4-2 victory over Toronto.
FRANK FRANKLIN II / Associated Press
The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez connectsfor a home run, moving him within two homers of 10th place on the all-time list.
Wearing red caps as part of the majors' Fourth of July weekend celebration, the Yankees rebounded from Thursday night's 8-4 loss to Seattle. It was the start of an unusual stretch of four straight day games between New York and Toronto, a series that includes today's observance of the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech.
Burnett (7-4), who lost to his former team at Toronto on May 12, struck out seven and walked two.
Since a shellacking last month at Fenway Park, in which he was pulled in the third inning, Burnett has allowed three earned runs in 271/3 innings (0.99 ERA).
"When you're clicking, everything just flows," he said. "When you're clicking on pitches, you don't even think about anything."
Mariano Rivera struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances, No. 503 of his career.
Brian Tallet (5-6), who walked a career-high six in his previous start, against the Phillies, again struggled with his control. He gave up three runs (two earned), six hits, and four walks in six innings, forcing in the go-ahead run with a four-pitch walk to Mark Teixeira in the fifth.
Rodriguez led off the eighth against Jeremy Accardo with an opposite-field home run to right. He has 14 homers this season, including five in his last eight games, and 567 in his career, two shy of Rafael Palmeiro for 10th place all time.
Toronto 000 101 000 – 2 7 0
New York 010 020 01x – 4 8 0
Toronto AB R H BI Avg. New York AB R H BI Avg.
Scutaro ss 4 0 2 0 .282 Jeter ss 3 0 2 0 .310
A.Hill 2b 3 0 0 0 .299 Damon lf 4 1 1 0 .287
Lind dh 4 0 0 0 .310 Teixeira 1b 3 0 1 1 .275
Rolen 3b 4 0 1 0 .332 A.Rodriguez 3b 3 1 1 1 .237
Overbay 1b 4 1 1 0 .264 Cano 2b 4 1 1 1 .306
V.Wells cf 4 1 2 1 .252 Swisher rf 4 0 0 0 .236
Rios rf 4 0 1 1 .260 Me.Cabrera rf 0 0 0 0 .282
Dellucci lf 2 0 0 0 .262 H.Matsui dh 3 0 1 0 .255
