Yankees down Buehrle again
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run homer and knocked in three runs before leaving with a right hamstring strain, as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3, in the second test of a four- game series.
"Any time a guy comes out and hamstring, you're always concerned," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "It's not what you want."
Brian McCann drove in a run for the Yankees, who have won three in a row on the heels of a three-game skid. Hiroki Kuroda (11-9) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have lost six straight. Mark Buehrle (12-10) continued to struggle against the Yankees, allowing five runs on eight hits over six innings. The left-hander fell to 1-14 lifetime against New York, with 12 consecutive losing decisions.
The Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Jose Reyes led off with a double, but got caught in a rundown when Jose Bautista hit a grounder to shortstop Derek Jeter. Encarnacion followed with a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole.
The Yankees got one run back in the bottom half. Ellsbury doubled off the wall in right, moved to third on Jeter's single and raced home on McCann's single to left-center field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Toronto outfielder Dalton Pompey singled in the second for his first hit in the big leagues. Jeter got the ball back from the outfield and tossed it into the dugout.
"He said, 'Congrats, I hope for a great career for you," said Pompey. "And I said, 'Thanks, it is a pleasure to meet you.' And he said, 'Likewise, keep swinging it.' So it was good words from him."
New York took the lead on Ellsbury's two-run homer in the third. Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single and crossed the plate on Ellsbury's blast to right.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Stephen Drew singled and Chase Headley and Suzuki walked to load the bases with one out. Ellsbury beat out a double-play ball and Reyes' throwing error allowed two runs to score on the play.
Toronto scored a run in the fifth when Reyes singled, stole second, advanced to third on McCann's throwing error and raced home on Bautista's groundout.
The Blue Jays put men on second and third with two outs in the seventh. Esmil Rogers came in from the bullpen and immediately walked Bautista to load the bases. But Encarnacion grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Toronto wasted another scoring chance in the eighth. Adam Warren took over on the hill with a runner on third and one out. He struck out Danny Valencia and Munenori Kawasaki to keep it 5-3.
Warren tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his third save of the season.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Yankees improved to 10-7 against the Blue Jays this season ... Ellsbury left in the fifth inning ... The Blue Jays went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven.