Preview: Blue Jays (42-41) at Yankees (48-33)
Game: 4
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 06, 2009 1:05 PM EDT
New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter was an overwhelming selection to make his 10th All-Star appearance. It may only be a matter of time before Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero represents the AL in the Midsummer Classic, too.
Jeter and the Yankees look to solve the Blue Jays' impressive rookie and extend a five-game winning streak against Toronto in the finale of a four-game series Monday.
Jeter was the leading vote-getter in the AL, giving the shortstop his sixth start in the All-Star game.
"It's something that every player wants to be a part of," Jeter told the Yankees' official Web site. "If they tell you they don't, I think they're lying to you. There's a lot of great players out there, so it's great to be going."
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will join Jeter in the starting lineup and Mariano Rivera will be in the bullpen.
With his play over the weekend, Jeter helped New York (44-31) continue its win streak against Toronto (42-41). He had four hits Sunday and delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the Yankees' 10-8 victory.
A homer and three RBIs from second baseman Aaron Hill, selected as an All-Star reserve Sunday, couldn't help Toronto avoid its seventh loss in eight games.
Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay was also chosen as an All-Star, and Toronto will give the ball Sunday to a pitcher that could very well find himself on the All-Star squad in the future.
Romero (6-3, 2.85) posted a 0.82 ERA in winning his last three starts and has not allowed a run in his last 20 innings. The 24-year-old left-hander gave up four hits over eight innings against a strong Tampa Bay lineup as Toronto won 5-0 on Wednesday.
Romero, a first-round draft pick in 2005, is finally living up to his potential after working diligently on his changeup in the minors.
"I've caught some good changeups and he's right up there with the best I've caught," Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas said.
This will be Romero's first appearance against the Yankees.
New York will counter with Andy Pettitte (8-3, 4.25 ERA), who has gone 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his last three starts, striking out 16 in 17 2-3 innings. The veteran left-hander gave up two runs while striking out five in seven innings of New York's 4-2 win over Seattle on Wednesday night.
Pettitte is 18-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 36 starts versus the Blue Jays.
Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells is batting .395 (15 for 38) against Pettitte, but he has been in a slump that has relegated him to the sixth spot in the order the past three games. Wells had not batted sixth since June 3, 2005.
He went 1 for 4 on Sunday is and hitting .219 (7 for 32) over his last nine contests.
Jorge Posada, meanwhile, is getting hot for the Yankees.
A day after singling in the winning run in the 12th inning of a 6-5 victory, Posada went 4 for 5 with a double and three RBIs on Sunday. He hit .129 (4 for 31) with no homers and one RBI in his previous 11 home games.
Game: 4
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 06, 2009 1:05 PM EDT
New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter was an overwhelming selection to make his 10th All-Star appearance. It may only be a matter of time before Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero represents the AL in the Midsummer Classic, too.
Jeter and the Yankees look to solve the Blue Jays' impressive rookie and extend a five-game winning streak against Toronto in the finale of a four-game series Monday.
Jeter was the leading vote-getter in the AL, giving the shortstop his sixth start in the All-Star game.
"It's something that every player wants to be a part of," Jeter told the Yankees' official Web site. "If they tell you they don't, I think they're lying to you. There's a lot of great players out there, so it's great to be going."
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will join Jeter in the starting lineup and Mariano Rivera will be in the bullpen.
With his play over the weekend, Jeter helped New York (44-31) continue its win streak against Toronto (42-41). He had four hits Sunday and delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the Yankees' 10-8 victory.
A homer and three RBIs from second baseman Aaron Hill, selected as an All-Star reserve Sunday, couldn't help Toronto avoid its seventh loss in eight games.
Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay was also chosen as an All-Star, and Toronto will give the ball Sunday to a pitcher that could very well find himself on the All-Star squad in the future.
Romero (6-3, 2.85) posted a 0.82 ERA in winning his last three starts and has not allowed a run in his last 20 innings. The 24-year-old left-hander gave up four hits over eight innings against a strong Tampa Bay lineup as Toronto won 5-0 on Wednesday.
Romero, a first-round draft pick in 2005, is finally living up to his potential after working diligently on his changeup in the minors.
"I've caught some good changeups and he's right up there with the best I've caught," Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas said.
This will be Romero's first appearance against the Yankees.
New York will counter with Andy Pettitte (8-3, 4.25 ERA), who has gone 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his last three starts, striking out 16 in 17 2-3 innings. The veteran left-hander gave up two runs while striking out five in seven innings of New York's 4-2 win over Seattle on Wednesday night.
Pettitte is 18-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 36 starts versus the Blue Jays.
Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells is batting .395 (15 for 38) against Pettitte, but he has been in a slump that has relegated him to the sixth spot in the order the past three games. Wells had not batted sixth since June 3, 2005.
He went 1 for 4 on Sunday is and hitting .219 (7 for 32) over his last nine contests.
Jorge Posada, meanwhile, is getting hot for the Yankees.
A day after singling in the winning run in the 12th inning of a 6-5 victory, Posada went 4 for 5 with a double and three RBIs on Sunday. He hit .129 (4 for 31) with no homers and one RBI in his previous 11 home games.
