Music: {allcanada} Jays go for series win Sunday

Sunday, May 1, 2011

{allcanada} Jays go for series win Sunday

Jesse Litsch has had a few rough outings against the Yankees in the past, a pattern New York would like to see continue Sunday as they try to close their seven-game stay in the Bronx with a fourth victory.

New York scored 32 runs in four games at Toronto and Baltimore before heading home, but it didn't capitalize on that momentum at the plate. The Yankees totaled five runs in their first three games against the White Sox before salvaging a series split with a 12-3 rout Thursday.

Watch it live on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Litsch has been solid if unspectacular in four outings this season, but he didn't need to be dynamic Tuesday at Texas.

Toronto (13-14) gave him five runs of support in the first, and Litsch held the Rangers to three over six innings in a 10-3 win.

"Everything was moving good," Litsch told the Blue Jays' official website. "I was just trying to keep them off balance and work in my strengths and hopefully find their weaknesses."

Despite his struggles against the Yankees, he hasn't been entirely unsuccessful against their current lineup. Robinson Cano is 3 for 14 (.214) versus Litsch, while Swisher, Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson are a combined 2 for 18.

Even if New York scores some runs, the Blue Jays might be able to keep up against Ivan Nova (1-2, 5.82), who has failed to make it through the fifth inning in two of his four starts.

His latest outing, however, was his best yet. Nova held the White Sox to a run over 6 1-3 innings Tuesday, though Chicago rallied against Rafael Soriano for a 3-2 win.

Nova has no decisions and a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays.

Jose Bautista is 2 for 4 with two walks and a home run off Nova.

Joe Girardi's club left 11 men on base in a 5-3 loss in Friday's opener against the Blue Jays, including seven that Alex Rodriguez couldn't bring home.

Girardi gave Rodriguez the day off Saturday, and though the Yankees (15-9) didn't exactly enjoy a breakout performance, they got the job done without the three-time AL MVP. Six singles and four walks in the second and third innings led to five New York runs, which were enough to hold off Toronto 5-4.

"I don't care whether we get them by homers, bunts, walks," outfielder Nick Swisher said. "So long as we get them."

Rodriguez should be back in the lineup Sunday as he tries to wiggle out of a 7-for-49 (.143) slump against the Blue Jays.

He's 4 for 13 (.308) against Litsch (2-1, 3.86 ERA), who probably isn't thrilled to see the Yankees for the first time since Sept. 23, 2008. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.72 ERA in six career starts versus New York, losing his last three.