Toronto – Frank Thomas drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 2-1 on Thursday night to snap New York’s seven-game winning streak.
Alex Rios led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off reliever Chris Britton (0-1), stole second and scored when Thomas grounded a clean single to center. A.J. Burnett pitched eight outstanding innings, Thomas went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Toronto ended a five-game losing streak.
The Yankees, who fell 5 1/2 games behind the first- place Boston Red Sox in the AL East, head to Fenway Park to begin a big three-game series against their longtime rival tonight. Roger Clemens threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday and said he has “no doubt” he’ll be able to return from a sore elbow to start the series finale Sunday night.
ORIOLES 3, ANGELS 0 at Baltimore: Jon Leicester (2-1) and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and Scott Moore had two RBIs as Baltimore won the finale of the series after losing the first two games by a combined score of 28-11.
The Orioles won for just the fourth time in their past 22 games and for the second time in their past 16 home games.
MARINERS 8, DEVIL RAYS 7 at Seattle: Adrian Beltre’s go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning capped a five-run rally, and J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless ninth for his 38th save.
ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 5 at Oakland, Calif.: Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer and Jack Cust doubled in two runs to help Chad Gaudin (11-11) end a three-start winless stretch.
