BRONX, NY – The Yankees continued its undefeated homestand with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday afternoon. One day earlier, New York completed a four-game sweep of Oakland. The seven game overall winning streak the team now holds is tied with the high achieved in 2010. The victory also ensured the Yankees would remain in undisputed first place in the Eastern Division with the best record in the majors.
Rookie Ivan Molina made his third start for the team. He was pulled after 4.1 innings with the Yanks ahead by a score of 5-3, so he could not receive credit for the win. The Dominican native gave up three runs and five hits. He also walked two. Yankees skipper Joe Girardi explained his reason for lifting the rookie early, “I just thought he [Molina] was a little off today. He had some deep counts.”
The inhabitants of the bullpen, who have been outstanding for more than a month, were so again on Friday. The pen men, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera, hurled no hit ball for 4.1 innings. The members of the relief staff have held opponents batters to an average of .183 and compiled a minuscule ERA of 1.63 since July 26.