On the Yankees beat

Yankees (71-62) vs. Blue Jays (68-65)

Carl Pavano (1-0, 5.40) vs. A.J. Burnett (16-9, 4.58)

The Yankees keep their hope of a wild card birth alive with a series finale win over the Red Sox. Again the Blue Jays and its excellent pitch staff stand in the way of the Yankees gaining momentum.

Carl Pavano makes his second start of the season after making his triumphant return to the rotation on Aug. 23, after over a year hiatus from the Major Leagues. Pavano threw five innings, allowing three runs, and earned the win against the Orioles. He was a effective, but looked to lack a bit of confidence in his stuff in his first outing. Pavano will be looking to extend his outing in his next start (he only threw 90 pitches in Baltimore) as well as improve his command.

Burnett earned a no-decision against the Red Sox, though the right-hander squandered two leads in Toronto's loss last Sunday. Burnett allowed five runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, with seven strikeouts and three walks. Burnett raised his American League-leading strikeout total to 185, but he gave up five runs for the first time in nine starts. He is 6-2 with a 2.63 ERA in nine career games against the Yankees.

Joseph Staszewski is here to take you through all of tonight's action.

YANKEES 2, BLUE JAYS 1

Top of the Ninth: Rivera give up just a single.

Bottom of the Eighth:Yankees go 1-2-3.

Top of the Eighth: Veras comes in to pitch and gives up a lead off double to Barajas and then walks Rolan. Edwar Ramirez is brought in. He strikes out Snider. Mariano Rivera is then brought it. He gets a ground out and a strike out

Bottom of the Seventh: Yankees get just a two-out single by Cano.

Top of the Seventh: Bruney comes out get one out. Marte comes in to get the next two.

Bottom of the Sixth: Abreu singles back up the middle. A-Rod grounds into a double play and Giambi strikes out.

Top of the Sixth: Snider gets his first major league hit, a ground run double to center. Scutaro singles with two outs to bring home Snider. YANKEES 2, BLUE JAYS 1

Bottom of the Fifth: Cano doubles to the gap in right center with one out. Pudge grounds out. Damon walks and Jeter strikes out to end the inning.

Top of the Fifth: Pavano has retired 12 straight Blue Jay. Barajas drove a ball deep to left to end the inning.

Bottom of the Fourth: Damon singles off the wall in right and then steal second. Abreu doubles into the gap in left center to score Damon. A-Rod ground a ball to short, but the throw to third was not in time. Giambi hits a sac fly to left to score Abreu. YANKEES 2, BLUE JAYS 0

Top of the Fourth: Blue Jays go 1-2-3.

Bottom of the Third: Yankees again cannot get a base runner.

Top of the Third: Pavano needs just six pitches to retire the Blue Jays in order

Bottom of the Second: Yankees go down 1-2-3 with two strikeouts.

Top of the Second: Blue Jay's go in order. Pavano gets Overbay to ground into a double play for the first two outs.

Bottom of the First: Yankees go in order. Damon singled to lead off the inning, but Jeter bounced into a double play.

Top of the First: Inglett singles and is bunted to second by Scutaro,but that is all the Blue Jays get.