Yankees Fall to Toronto Blue Jays 9-0

Francisco Liriano and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, Troy Tulowitzki had four RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Yankees 9-0 on Friday to maintain a one-game lead in the AL wild card standings.

Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion got his 124th RBI, tied with Boston's David Ortiz for the AL lead, as the Blue Jays won their sixth straight home game over New York.

New York, which dropped four games back for the second AL wild card with nine left, was shut out for the second straight night and lost for the ninth time in 12 games, following a seven-game winning streak. The Yankees have gone 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in their last two games and stranded 17 runners.

Liriano (8-13) escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Chase Headley to end a 27-pitch first inning, then left runners at the corners after the first two batters reached in the third. That was the start of a stretch that saw the left-hander retire nine straight.

Liriano allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six for his second win with Toronto.

Reliever Joaquin Benoit walked Aaron Hicks to begin the seventh but pinch-hitter Brian McCann grounded into a double play. Brett Cecil worked the eighth and Danny Barnes finished.

Tulowitzki opened the scoring with a two-out, bases-loaded single off Bryan Mitchell (1-2) in the first and Encarnacion made it 3-0 with a bases-loaded walk in the second.

Mitchel allowed three runs - one earned - and six hits in six innings.

Jose Bautista hit a two-run double off Blake Parker in the seventh and Tulowitzki added a second two-run single.

Donaldson homered off Ben Heller in the eighth, his 36th.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: 2B Starlin Castro (right hamstring) hit in the cage before the game and plans to run on the field Saturday. Manager Joe Girardi said he does not expect Castro to return during the series against Toronto.

UP NEXT

New York LHP CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.19) faces RHP Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.50) Saturday. Sabathia, who will start on five days' rest, is 3-8 with a 5.49 ERA in his past 17 starts. Stroman has lost his past four starts and is winless since Aug. 14.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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