Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3
New York -- Vernon Wells had a controversial go-ahead RBI fielder's choice with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning as the New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5-3 victory Thursday.
After getting an eighth-inning home run from Alfonso Soriano the night before, the Yankees waited three-and-a-half hours before the first pitch due to steady rains and the threat of rain.
The Yankees were getting shut out by Toronto starter J.A. Happ (3-3) through four innings before the bizarre sequence that resulted in their go-ahead run.
Wells appeared to have hit a sacrifice fly as center fielder Rajai Davis made a sliding catch. Umpires ruled Davis dropped the ball on the transfer and Wells was originally credited with a single before the call was changed to a fielder's choice.
Davis threw to second base as Ichiro Suzuki advanced from first. Suzuki avoided the tag by second baseman Munenori Kawasaki but Stewart returned to second thinking the catch had been made.
Stewart was called out trying to advance to third while Eduardo Nunez scored the go-ahead run before the play at second was made.
Toronto manager John Gibbons raced out of the dugout to argue. After a few heated minutes, he was tossed by first base umpire Scott Barry.
New York's Curtis Granderson added a solo home run while Nunez contributed a two-run double. Chris Stewart drove in the other run for New York, which has won 10 straight over the Blue Jays and 13 straight home games against Toronto.
Andy Pettitte (9-9) allowed one run and five hits over six innings as the Yankees, who stretched their winning streak to five games, won for the 11th time in 14 games and moved within 3 1/2 games of the American League's second wild card spot.
Shawn Kelley allowed two runs in the seventh before Boone Logan struck out pinch hitter Adam Lind for the final out. Preston Claiborne pitched a scoreless eighth and David Robertson did the same in the ninth for his second save.
J.P Arencibia hit a solo home run and Kawasaki added an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who lost their fifth straight and eighth in 11 games. Edwin Encarnacion also had an RBI.
Happ lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs and three hits.
NOTES: New York manager Joe Girardi addressed the news that Rodriguez said Wednesday he was no longer going to be discussing any legal topics involving his 211-game suspension for alleged PED use that is being appealed. "I think our team has handled it well with what's been going on," he said. "It's probably easier on Alex and easier just to focus on the game than having to focus on all the other stuff. I commend him for it, just try to put this on the side burner right now and focus on the task at hand. I think it's a good thing." ... The Yankees placed INF Jayson Nix on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left hand and recalled RHP Prestonn Claiborne from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. ... Toronto placed INF Maicer Izturis on the 15-day DL with a sprained left ankle and recalled INF Ryan Goins from Triple-A Buffalo. ... Toronto LHP Mark Buehrle was ejected by third base umpire Ted Barrett on the same play that Gibbons was ejected on.
