Cano, Rodriguez Respond to Jays' Push

TORONTO — Jesse Litsch's first pitch of the second inning went behind Alex Rodriguez's legs, an apparent message. The Yankees responded with some hard play — and another win.

Robinson Cano hit a -ahead two-run double in a four-run sixth inning, Andy Pettitte won consecutive starts for the first time this season and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 yesterday to extend their winning streak to four.

Yankees manager Joe Torre and some New York players moved to the top step of the dugout after the pitch to A-Rod, who stared back at plate umpire Mark Carlson and later worked out a walk. When the Yankees last played in Toronto on May 30, Rodriguez distracted infielder Howie Clark on a key popup late in the game, yelling something as he approached third base. On Monday, Rodriguez slid hard into shortstop John McDonald while trying to break up a double play in the fourth, swiping his left arm in anger, and Johnny Damon collided with Aaron Hill on a forceout in the fifth, appearing to clip the second baseman on a leg. The Yankees' Jorge Posada and Toronto's Matt Stairs were each hit by pitches, but no warnings were issued.

Two days after hitting his 500th home run, Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a walk, moving his average back up to .301.

New York improved to 19–7 since the All-Star break, moved 12 games over .500 for the first time this year and stopped Toronto's home winning streak at eight. The Yankees, 9 1/2 games back in the wild-card race after play on July 7, began the day just a half-game behind Detroit, the AL wild-card leader.

With the Yankees playing a team with a winning record for the first time since July 8, Pettitte (8–7) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks, improving to 41-16 in August. In his 300th start for the Yankees, Pettitte tied Waite Hoyt for eighth on the team's victory list (157).

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 20 chances, striking out Alex Rios, Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas on 16 pitches.

Melky Cabrera, who had three hits, tripled and scored on Damon's grounder in the third, but Thomas hit a two-run double in the bottom half and Wells singled in a run in the fifth.

Bobby Abreu walked and Rodriguez singled, chasing Litsch. Hideki Matsui greeted Scott Downs (1-2) with an RBI single, Jorge Posada struck out and Cano doubled to left-center for a 4-3 lead. One out later, Cabrera hit an RBI single through the right side.

Called up from Triple-A before the game, Jim Brower relieved Pettitte with runners at first and second in the sixth and retired Reed Johnson on an inning-ending lineout.

Aaron Hill homered off Luis Vizcaino in the eighth, which ended when Johnson grounded out with two on.

Litsch allowed three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

Notes: Soccer star David Beckham watched the game from a private suite, and Beckham spoke with Torre before the game.