Kuroda Awful, Situational Hitting Worse As Blue Jays Blast Yankees
TORONTO (AP) -- Looking for a common theme in the New York Yankees' eight losses this month? Look no further than the poor results with runners in scoring position.
Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 8-1 on Wednesday night.
New York has scored 11 total runs in eight May losses and, after a 1-for-8 showing Wednesday, is just 3 for 53 with runners in scoring position in those games.
"We just have not hit with runners in scoring position on a consistent basis," manager Joe Girardi said.
Catcher Russell Martin acknowledged some Yankees were trying to do too much at the plate.
"We got in a hole and then it seemed like every hitter was trying to hit a three-run homer with nobody on," Martin said. "That's not how you win ballgames."
The Yankees dropped to 1-13 when scoring three runs or fewer, and 0-8 when failing to hit a home run. New York is the only team in the majors this season to not win a game in which they did not homer.
Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda for seven runs, matching a career-high.
"At times (Kuroda) threw the ball really well but when he got a ball up, they didn't miss it," Girardi said.
Blue Jays right-hander Kyle Drabek (3-4) snapped a four-start losing streak, scattering three hits over seven innings to win for the first time since April 15 against Baltimore. He walked four and struck out five.
Using a hard sinker, Drabek got 13 of his 21 outs on ground balls.
"That sinker was really working," New York's Mark Teixeira said. "You don't want to say (Roy) Halladay because Halladay is a special pitcher but I felt like Halladay was out there tonight because (Drabek) just wasn't getting the ball up in the zone at all."
Luis Perez worked the eighth and Francisco Cordero finished for Toronto.
Arencibia had three hits and scored twice, helping Toronto snap a three-game losing streak and giving the Blue Jays their seventh win in their past 11 home games against the Yankees.
"More important was keeping the momentum on our side, Kyle going out and putting up a zero each time, but this was a good offensive night for us," Toronto manager John Farrell said.
Kuroda (3-5) allowed eight hits and a season-high three homers in five-plus innings. He walked two and struck out six.
Arencibia got the Blue Jays started with a two-out drive to left in the second inning, his fourth. Encarnacion made it 5-0 with a two-out shot to center in the third, his 13th of the season and second in as many days.
"I almost got out of the inning but both times I gave up home runs with two outs," Kuroda said through an interpreter. "I wish I could take those pitches back."
Arencibia doubled and scored on a two-out single by Johnson in the fourth and Bautista drilled a leadoff shot into the second deck in left in the sixth, his ninth.
New York broke up Drabek's shutout bid in the sixth when Teixeira singled home Robinson Cano, who had doubled. Teixeira's hit was the 1,500th of his career, while Cano's double was his 300th.
Johnson restored Toronto's seven-run lead with a milestone hit in the seventh, smacking a leadoff drive to right off Clay Rapada, his 100th career home run and eighth this season.
NOTES: New York SS Derek Jeter got the day off and was replaced by Jayson Nix, with Curtis Granderson moving up to the leadoff spot. It was Jeter's first day off this season. ... Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (right ankle) did not throw his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday but is expected to throw a side session Thursday. Girardi said he still expects Nova to make his next scheduled start, Saturday against Cincinnati. ... Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for Tuesday night's altercation with umpire Bill Miller. Lawrie is appealing and can play until there is a hearing, which could be held next week via video conference. ... The Blue Jays were unsuccessful in detaining the fan who hit Miller on the shoulder with a cup of beer as the umpires walked off the field Tuesday. Umpires and stadium security pointed at the fan, but he managed to evade security as he exited the building. ... OF Vladimir Guerrero, who signed a minor league contract with Toronto last week, has started taking batting practice at extended spring training in Florida and could see his first game action next week.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
