New York @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2011 ) NY Yankees 4, Toronto 5

THE STORY: The New York Yankees continued to struggle on the road as they absorbed their sixth loss in nine games with Friday’s series-opening loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees, who lead Boston by 3 ½ games in the AL East, can still finish with a .500 mark on their 10-game road trip if they can take the final two games from the Blue Jays. Veteran Bartolo Colon takes the mound for New York in an attempt to end a winless drought that has stretched to July 30. He’s also trying to remain in consideration for a playoff starting slot. The Blue Jays counter with impressive rookie Henderson Alvarez.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, YES, RSN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Bartolo Colon (8-9, 3.55 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.09 ERA).

Colon had his best outing in weeks last time out, tossing seven innings of one-run ball against the Angels, but he remains winless (0-3) in his last seven starts. He gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings to the Blue Jays on Sept. 3, and was absolutely mauled in his last start in Toronto, lasting two-thirds of an inning and getting clubbed for eight runs on July 14.

After not allowing a run in back-to-back starts, Alvarez gave up three runs and nine hits in seven innings against Baltimore in his last outing. The rookie showed great composure, though, holding the Orioles to only one hit over the last four innings. He has displayed good control, yielding only seven walks vs. 29 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. That could serve him well against New York's patient lineup.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (76-74): Toronto battled back from a two-run deficit, getting a clutch two-out, three-run double from Adam Lind off Yankees ace CC Sabathia. Lind also sparked the game-winning rally with the third of his three hits, a leadoff double in the ninth against lefty specialist Boone Logan. Lind had been 0-for-11 against Logan. That set up Jose Molina’s game-winning hit to the gap in right-center, the Blue Jays’ 11th walk-off hit of the year. It also helped ease the frustration after Toronto stranded 14 runners and was 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays snapped a five-game losing streak to New York.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (90-59): New York scratched out only five hits in Friday’s 5-4 loss, and they all came from the Nos. 4-5-6 hitters in the order. Robinson Cano had a pair of hits and is now 10-for-22 during a five-game hitting streak. Nick Swisher also had a pair of hits and drove in two runs while Eric Chavez belted a two-run homer, his second of the year and first since Aug. 3. Derek Jeter was hitless in four at-bats and saw his 13-game hitting streak come to an end. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez sat out his sixth straight game but could return Saturday.

FINAL PITCH: With all the talk about who will be the No. 2 starter come the postseason, the Yankees could have some concern at the top of the rotation after Sabathia allowed 10 hits for the fifth time in his last nine starts Friday night.