Yankees-Blue Jays: Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter Help Yanks Even Series with Jays

They're all must-wins at this point, and there aren't many pitchers the New York Yankees could want on the mound after a tough loss other than Andy Pettitte.

The team's stopper pitched brilliantly on Wednesday night, albeit against a struggling Toronto Blue Jays lineup, giving up just one run and five hits over seven innings, en route to his 13th win of the year.

But Pettitte was just one out better than Darrell Rasner the night before, so the real difference in the second game of this series was the Bombers' offense.

The Yankees touched up David Purcey for five runs on seven hits over four innings, and while the Jays' starter entered the game with an ERA of 5.93, the minor offensive breakout was a step in the right direction for a team that has not done well all year against unfamiliar lefties.

Thursday, however, the task will be a lot more difficult, as the Yanks face future Hall of Famer Roy Halladay. But New York is going to have to win a lot of these tougher matchups, now that they've dug themselves such a large hole in the playoff race.

Here are the grades from the Yanks' 5-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (B) He put on another helpful hit-and-run early in the game, but Girardi once again pulled his starter too early. I have faith in Brian Bruney to hold a four-run lead for two innings, but there was no need to take out Pettitte, who was pitching very well and had only thrown 83 pitches.

He even gets an extra day of rest with the off day on Monday. Purcey nearly threw as many pitches as Pettitte and he lasted only four innings. I just don't get the overmanaging. You won't see Halladay get pulled after 83 pitches Thursday.

Johnny Damon, CF: (A) Damon went 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI.  And he didn't drop a single flyball.

Derek Jeter, SS: (A+) When Jeter was hitting .269 in late May, I made a $20 bet with my friend Adam that the Captain would finish the season above .310. He's starting to sweat.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (C-) Abreu went 1-4.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (F) Rodriguez went 0-4 and left three men on, including a runner at third with no one out in the first. He's looking a lot like the 2006 A-Rod again, and that's the last thing the Yankees need right now.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (C) I've got to give him credit for the sac fly in the first, and a few nice plays in the field, but Giambi has just one hit in his last 21 at-bats, dropping his average to a Melky Cabrera-like .246.

How low does a hitter's average have to go before Girardi finally pulls him out of the crucial five-hole in the lineup?

Xavier Nady, LF: (A) Just another multi-hit game for Nady.

Hideki Matsui, DH: (C) Godzilla picked up his first hit—a double—since returning from the DL.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (C-) Cano went 0-3 with two strikeouts, but he also walked and scored.

Jose Molina, C: (C-) Molina went 1-4 with a K.

Cody Ransom, 1B: (INC) How about sitting Giambi for a game or two and letting Ransom bat ninth? It would be impossible to make the offense any worse, right?

Andy Pettitte, SP: (A+) That's three-straight, solid, seven-inning efforts from Pettitte, but just his first win over that span.

Brian Bruney, RP: (A) Two perfect innings in relief.

Yankees Overall Grade: (A) It was one of the best days in a long time for the Yankees, who got good hitting, good pitching, good defense, and even picked up a game on the Rays and Red Sox. Six more days like this and they'll be right back in it.

Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and authorhouse.com. Jordan can be reached at [e-mail]