Yankees Fail To Reclaim AL East Lead As AJ Burnett Gets Blown Out

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Vernon Wells went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays clipped the New York Yankees, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game set.

John Buck had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored while Travis Snider scored twice for the Blue Jays, who have won five straight games.

Marc Rzepczynski (3-4) went five innings in the start and was charged with two runs on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. At one point, he recorded eight straight outs by strikeouts.

Mark Teixeira hit a three-run home run while Curtis Granderson added a two-run shot for the Yankees, who have lost five of their last six and remain a half- game behind Tampa Bay for the top spot in the AL East. The Rays lost to Baltimore on Monday.

A.J. Burnett (10-15) was clobbered for seven runs on seven hits over just 2 1/3 innings.

The Blue Jays got on the board in the first inning when Snider led off with a ground-rule double and Jose Bautista later hit a double for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto took control of the game in the third. With two on and one out, Wells blasted a shot over the wall in left-center. After Lyle Overbay doubled, Buck singled him home and Adam Lind followed with a single to chase Burnett from the game.

Jonathan Albaladejo took over on the mound and a sacrifice fly from Edwin Encarnacion made it a 7-0 game.

New York got on the board in the fifth as Austin Kearns led off with a walk and Grander son followed with a shot over the right field wall to cut the deficit to 7-2.

In the seventh, the Yanks cut further into their deficit. With one out, Derek Jeter beat out an infield single and Nick Swisher followed with a single. Teixeira then blasted a shot over the wall in center to make it 7-5.

Scott Downs set the Yankees down in order in the eighth and Kevin Gregg did the same in the ninth for his 36th save.