Game 79 - Burnett Beats Former Team

One of the major reasons the Yanks signed AJ Burnett during the offseason was his 20-5 career record against AL East opponents. Today, he defeated his former team, the Blue Jays, in the Yanks 4-2 victory. AJ improved to 7-4 this season, 3-2 against the AL East, as he continued his impressive run since getting slapped around by Boston 5 starts ago. He limited the Jays to 2 runs in 7 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, while striking out 7. His only real mistake was allowing a HR to Vernon Wells on an 0-2 fastball down the pipe. He's 3-1 with an ERA of 0.99 in his last 4 starts.

Robinson Cano got the Yanks on the board with a solo shot in the 2nd. It was his 13th HR of the season and his first RBI in 12 games. Cano still retains the title of "Greatest Hitter with No Men on Base", but his struggles continue with RISP, going 0-2. With the score tied at 1, the Yanks rallied for 2 in the fifth frame, but it should have been a bigger rally. With bases loaded and none out, Mark Teixeira walked in a run. ARod then forced a runner out at home. With the enigmatic Cano at the plate, Johnny Damon scored on a passed ball as all runners moved up a base. 1 out, 2 runners in scoring position, Cano at the plate - you probably guessed it, he didn't knock in anyone, as Tex was tagged out at the plate on a grounder to 2B. Swisher, who's turning into the switch-hitting version of Cano, minus the high batting average without men on base, ended the inning taking a called 3rd strike.

ARod supplied an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th with an opposite field solo shot, his 14th of the season. The 2 Phils - Coke and Hughes, pitched a scoreless top of the 8th, as Joe Girardi didn't go with his "8th inning guy", Brian Bruney. Girardi feels Bruney needs to work things out, but he trusts Bruney will return to the form he displayed prior to his DL stint. It's good to see Girardi managing to win these games first, instead of continually throwing Bruney into the fire, especially after he blew a 2-run lead against Seattle. As usual, we Yankee fans are so spoiled, Mariano Rivera came into the 9th and wrapped up the Bombers 8th win in 9 games.

Tomorrow - Yankee killer, Roy Halladay.

Yankees Record: 46-33