Read More: Freddy Garcia (P – NYY), New York Yankees, New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays, Sep 18, 2011 1:07 PM EDT

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – Adam Lind homered twice and Brandon Morrow tossed eight shutout innings, as the Toronto Blue Jays delayed Mariano Rivera’s pursuit of history and earned a 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees in the rubber match of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.

Rivera notched his 601st save on Saturday to tie Trevor Hoffman’s all-time mark and was not needed in Sunday’s contest, as the Yankees mustered little offense with Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira all on the bench for a day of rest.

Morrow (10-11) entered the contest 0-4 in his previous five starts, but limited New York to four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts to win for the first time since August 17 at Seattle.

“I spotted my fastball pretty good and I had a good curveball today,” Morrow said.

Frank Francisco worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his 16th save.

The Yankees still lead the AL East by 4 1/2 games over the Red Sox, who dropped an 8-5 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays. New York just wrapped up a 10-game road trip at 4-6 and will start an eight-game homestand with a makeup game against Minnesota on Monday. Tampa Bay then visits for four before Boston invades the Bronx next weekend.

Freddy Garcia (11-8) went the first 4 2/3 innings for New York and was charged with three runs on five hits and three walks. The veteran righty has been roughed up for 15 runs in 12 1/3 innings over his last three outings. Still, he had been 4-0 over his last seven starts and suffered his first loss since a 7-1 setback to Toronto on July 15.

“He just missed his spots,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of his starter.

Eduardo Nunez had three of the five Yankee hits. He also had a baserunning gaffe after a sixth-inning single, trying to race to second after right fielder Jose Bautista threw behind him. Edwin Encarnacion easily took the throw at first and fired to second for the out.

The Yankees had two on with one out in the top of the first and tried to pull off a double steal, but trailing runner Robinson Cano was thrown out at second and Alex Rodriguez flied to right to end the threat.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second when Lind led off the inning with his 25th home run of the season. Lind then clubbed his second of the game with one out in the fourth to make it 2-0.

The Jays tacked on another in the fifth and chased Garcia in the process. J.P. Arencibia walked with one out and raced all the way to third when Garcia threw away Mike McCoy’s bunt single. Eric Thames followed with a sacrifice fly and Toronto went on to load the bases when Bautista singled and Lind walked. Luis Ayala took over on the mound and got Encarnacion on a fly ball to center.

Lind had a chance to blow the game open in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out against Raul Valdes, but was caught looking at a third strike. Encarnacion then grounded to third to keep it a three-run game.

The Yankees, though, got only a two-out single from Chris Dickerson in the eighth and a one-out double from Nunez in the ninth.

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TORONTO, Sept. 18 (UPI) — Brandon Morrow blanked the Yankees for eight innings and Adam Lind homered twice Sunday in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 3-0 win over New York.

Morrow (10-11) broke a personal four-start losing streak, holding the Yanks to four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Frank Francisco earned his 16th save despite allowing a one-out double in the ninth as the Blue Jays took the rubber match of a three-game series at Rogers Center.

New York’s Freddy Garcia (11-8) lasted just 4 2/3 innings, yielding three runs on five hits and three walks.

Toronto’s win delayed Mariano Rivera’s pursuit of his major league record-breaking 602nd career save.

The Yankees entered the contest with a 4 1/2-game lead over Boston in the American League East with a magic number of five to clinch a playoff spot.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Bartolo Colon made his first start in nearly two years to help the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Colon, who had not started since July 2009 and missed all of last season, enjoyed a solid outing while surrendering two runs in 6 2/3 innings and striking out seven.

“We’ve seen him do it since day one of spring training,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi told reporters. “He was a power arm, but he really knew how to locate and that’s what he’s doing.”

A former Cy Young Award winner, Colon has suffered various injuries in the past few seasons. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees in the off-season and had been pitching as a reliever until the recent injury to starter Phil Hughes.

Alex Rodriguez rejoined the lineup after missing two games with a sore left side and drew two walks and recorded a sacrifice-fly RBI, and the Yankees (10-6) scored early to take a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Curtis Granderson hit an RBI triple in the second and added a solo home run in the ninth after the Yankees had added two runs in the fifth.

New York’s Mark Teixeira finished 3-for-5.

J.P. Arencibia blasted a home run in the second for the Blue Jays (8-10), who added a run in the seventh.

After blowing a two-run lead in the ninth to lose 6-5 to Toronto on Tuesday, New York rebounded with a strong bullpen performance capped by Rafael Soriano getting the final two outs of the game to pick up the save.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

TORONTO (Reuters) – Bartolo Colon made his first start in nearly two years to help the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Colon, who had not started since July 2009 and missed all of last season, enjoyed a solid outing while surrendering two runs in 6 2/3 innings and striking out seven.

“We’ve seen him do it since day one of spring training,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi told reporters. “He was a power arm, but he really knew how to locate and that’s what he’s doing.”

A former Cy Young Award winner, Colon has suffered various injuries in the past few seasons. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees in the off-season and had been pitching as a reliever until the recent injury to starter Phil Hughes.

Alex Rodriguez rejoined the lineup after missing two games with a sore left side and drew two walks and recorded a sacrifice-fly RBI, and the Yankees (10-6) scored early to take a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Curtis Granderson hit an RBI triple in the second and added a solo home run in the ninth after the Yankees had added two runs in the fifth.

New York’s Mark Teixeira finished 3-for-5.

J.P. Arencibia blasted a home run in the second for the Blue Jays (8-10), who added a run in the seventh.

After blowing a two-run lead in the ninth to lose 6-5 to Toronto on Tuesday, New York rebounded with a strong bullpen performance capped by Rafael Soriano getting the final two outs of the game to pick up the save.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

TAMPA, Fla. —

Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees welcomed Vice President Joe Biden to spring training. The Toronto Blue Jays? They were stuck on the bus.

Biden spent about 30 minutes on the third-base side of George Steinbrenner Field while the Yankees held an early practice before Wednesday night’s game against Toronto. He was with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and both wore Yankees hats.

“I didn’t expect it … it’s cool,” camp instructor David Wells said. “How many times can you say that you talked to the vice president? He’s very nice. Funny. Told stories. I’m not big into politics, but that was pretty cool.”

The Blue Jays, however, didn’t get to enjoy the visit. Their arrival was delayed about 10 minutes when authorities wouldn’t permit the team bus into the stadium complex. The Blue Jays made it inside around the time that Biden was leaving the ballpark.

Biden talked with Yankees manager Joe Girardi, team officials and a number of players.

At one point, Biden put his arm around Rivera while Girardi and reliever Joba Chamberlain looked on.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista hits a first-inning RBI single off New York Yankees starting pitcher A. J. Burnett in the Blue Jays 6-5 victory in a spring training baseball game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista hits a first-inning RBI single off…

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow winds up in the second inning of the Blue Jays 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees in a spring training baseball game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Morrow allowed no runs on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings, improving his spring training record to 2-0. Photo: AP / AP

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow winds up in the…

Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Molina hits a solo home run off New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett during the second inning of a spring training baseball game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Molina hits a solo home run off New York…

New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett slides to field a ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays Juan Rivera who hit Burnett in the buttocks with a first inning line drive in a spring training baseball game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett slides to field a…

New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner tosses his helmet after he was thrown out at the plate in the third inning of the Yankees’ 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in their spring training baseball game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Gardner left the game in the fourth with a bruised shin, an injury he sustained in Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Photo: AP / AP

New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner tosses his helmet after he was…

Dante Girardi, right, son of New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi (28), watches the Yankees take batting practice with his father before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

Dante Girardi, right, son of New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi…