TORONTO — Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer, Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings to snap a four-start winless streak and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Jeter’s homer in the fourth inning was his eighth of the season and 203rd of his career, moving him past Bill Dickey and into a tie with Roger Maris for 11th place on the Yankees’ all-time list.
He was 3-for-5 and is two hits shy of 2,500 for his career. He is batting .571 (16-for-27) over his past six games, including five multi-hit efforts.
Pettitte (13-9) had not won since beating Boston on July 26, losing twice and taking two no-decisions. He allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, walked none and struck out four. He set down 10 straight at one stretch and threw 83 pitches, including 62 strikes.
Brian Bruney got the final six outs for the Yankees, who have won three of four after losing six of their previous seven.
Toronto rookie left-hander David Purcey (2-4) allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Purcey was in immediate trouble, giving up consecutive singles to Johnny Damon, Jeter and Bobby Abreu to begin the game.
Alex Rodriguez flied out to shallow right, but Jason Giambi hit a sacrifice fly and Xavier Nady followed with an RBI single.
New York added three runs in the fourth. Robinson Cano walked, went to third on Jose Molina’s single and scored on Damon’s fielder’s choice before Jeter hit his two-run drive to right.
Alex Rios, whose 26-game hitting streak against the Yankees ended Tuesday, drove in Toronto’s only run with an RBI single in the sixth.
