Doc Goes Coast to Coast, Yankees Drop Finale to Jays

The New York Yankees were beaten by the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 8-2 on Thursday night.

Carl Pavano started in quite possibly his last game in pinstripes. He was not sharp, as he lasted only 3.2 innings, gave up a total of five earned runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out one.

Roy Halladay went for Toronto. He tossed a complete game, gave up two earned runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out five. This was Halladay's ninth complete game this year, and he retired the last 14 batters he faced.

The Yankees drew first blood in the top of the third. Robinson Cano singled to score Brett Gardner, and the Yanks went ahead 1-0.

The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Vernon Wells smashed a two-run homer, his 18th on the year, and the Jays went up 2-1.

Toronto padded their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Joe Inglett singled to score Travis Snider, Wells singled to score Gregg Zaun and Marco Scutaro, and the Jays made it 5-1.

The Yankees added one run in the top of the fifth. Rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Cody Ransom was able to score from third base, cutting the lead to 5-2.

The Jays got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Snider doubled to score Scott Rolen and Zaun doubled to score Snider, giving the Blue Jays a 7-2 edge.

Later in the seventh, Scutaro delivered an RBI single to score Zaun, and the Jays went up 8-2.

The Yankees could not hit Halladay, and went on to lose the final game of their three game series.

Halladay gets the win and is now 20-11.

Pavano gets the loss and will finish this season at 4-2. 

"I got myself into quite a few jams and couldn't get out," said Pavano to the media after the game. "We faced a big time pitcher who tossed nine innings, I only went three. I can't expect to win when that's the case. We only got three games left, and we have to do well."

Pavano's contract is up at the end of the year, and as stated before, this could have been his final start as a Yankee.

"I don't have any regrets, but it just felt like an uphill battle," Pavano added. "I tried to do what I could, I wish I could have been there to help the team more, but what are you going to do? the only thing I can do is move forward."

Barring a rain-out tomorrow night at 7:05 ET, the Yankees and Red Sox will play game one of their final three games in the 2008 season.

Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.38 ERA) will pitch his final game of the year against Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80 ERA).