With the end of the season only days away, the New York Yankees were hoping to put some more distance between themselves and the Baltimore Orioles in the division. The Toronto Blue Jays got in the way of that on Thursday, easily beating the Yankees 6-0.
Brandon Morrow was sharp for the Blue Jays, allowing only four hits in seven innings. He had three walks and struck out three, winning for the first time in his past five starts. Morrow used well-placed pitches and off-speed stuff rather than his usual hard-powering fastball to put the Yankees off balance.
"We stayed with a good mix of everything all night, tried to keep them off balance and not fall into any patterns," Morrow said.
It was only the sixth time this season the Yankees have been shutout. The loss denied New York another chance to extend their division lead over the Orioles. Baltimore was off on Thursday but will start a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
"It didn't seem like he was really raring back tonight," New York's Nick Swisher said of Morrow. "It felt like he was pitching. He was throwing a lot more cutters than I remember, a lot more changeups, breaking balls, things like that, rather than that flat 96 (mph). He did a good job."
Morrow worked deep into the game, his longest start since returning from a strained muscle injury that kept him out for 65 games.
"You always want to try and finish up strong," Morrow said. "It takes a little while to get back into a groove (after an injury), but I've felt good the whole time."
The Toronto bullpen of Brad Lincoln and Darren Oliver pitched two innings and gave up one hit to preserve the victory.
Brett Lawrie hit a two-run home run in the third inning to start things off for Toronto and Edwin Encarnacion added three hits and three RBIs. J.P. Arencibia also hit a solo home run in eighth inning.
New York lost for the third time in the past five games and lost out on another chance to extend their division lead.
"We know what's at stake right now and we've just got to go out there and keep picking up wins," Swisher said. "We've got a little six-game playoff race."
Starter Ivan Nova was ineffective for the Yankees, giving up four runs and six hits in just 4 2/3 innings. He was making his third start since returning from the disabled list and missing 14 games with a sore shoulder.
"I'm not pitching the way I want and I'm not getting the result I want, so that's not good," Nova said.
Nova has had trouble since returning from injury, only lasting three innings in his last start.
"He just hasn't had the command; that's the bottom line," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
The Yankees were threatening the in fourth inning when Swisher hit a deep drive to the outfield after Cano hit a one-out single. But Anthony Gose tracked the ball all the way and crashed into the wall to stop the threat after doubling up Cano at first base.
"(Cano) probably got a little bit too far, but it's a great play by Gose," Girardi said.
Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was making his first start since being suspended for three games for writing offensive words on his eye black last week. Some fans booed, but it died out by the end of the game.
"The three years I've been here in Toronto, the fans have been great to me," Escobar said through a translator. "They know how hard I work and I give everything on the field. I made a mistake. I'm sorry for it."
The Yankees still have the advantage in the AL East with six games left to play, but if they don't start winning games, the Orioles will take advantage. Baltimore has shown no signs of fading away and will play the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays for the last six games.
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