Cano Carries Yankees Past Blue Jays

sports.yahoo.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 18^th, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Blue Jays 2 Yankees 7

The New York Yankees were able to win their second straight game against the division rival Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon with an impressive seven to two victory. The win keeps the Yankees atop the AL East with a (27-16) record.

The Yankees were led by a strong start from David Phelps for the third straight game, as he earned his second win of the season. Phelps, who is battling for a rotation spot is certainly earning it by the way he is pitching lately, as on Saturday he went seven innings allowing only one run on six hits, three walks, and was able to strikeout eight batters in large part due to his great command of his off-speed pitches. In Phelps' last four starts he has an ERA of 2.84, which is pretty good for a fifth starter.

David Robertson was the first man out of the bullpen for the Yankees, but with a four-run lead things got a bit dicey for Robertson. Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo-homerun to Right Center Field to bring the Blue Jays within three runs of the Yankees. That was all was all the damage that Robertson allowed however.

On offense the Yankees were lead by Second Baseman and early MVP candidate Robinson Cano. Cano's first hit of the game came in the second inning, which was a two-run homerun that barely got out over the Right Field wall. Cano's second homerun of the game was also a two-run shot that went a bit further than the first homerun did to Right Center Field. Cano is now tied with Edwin Encarnacion and Mark Reynolds for the lead in the American League with 12 homeruns.

Travis Hafner was back in the lineup on Saturday and made his presence felt late in the game. Pronk hit a two-run homerun in the eighth inning, which cost Mariano Rivera a save opportunity, but gave the Yankees a very comfortable five-run lead. The homerun was Hafner's seventh of the season, and has shown that if he stays healthy he can be a factor for the Yankees this season.

The Yankees will be looking to sweep the Blue Jays on Sunday, as C.C. Sabathia (4-3, 3.19) will be on the mound for the Yankees against last year's CY Young award winner in the National League R.A. Dickey (3-5, 4.83).