WP – Burnett (7-4)  SV – Rivera (21)  LP – Tallet (5-6)

A.J. Burnett heard the boos when he struggled at times in April and May.  There was no mistaking them.  Having signed a major free agent contract, Burnett was expected to win 40 games by Yankees fans.  Okay, not really, but they certainly expected him to pitch a lot better than he did.  But since the calendar turned to June 1, Burnett has been everything Yankees fans were hoping for.

Yesterday, Burnett celebrated his independence from the Toronto Blue Jays a day early with a dominant performance in the Yankees 4-2 win.  The right-hander, who was a member of the Blue Jays from 2006 -2008, fired his fastball past his former teammates in an outstanding 7 inning performance.  Afterwards, Burnett said the difference between his pitching now and in May is the location of his fastball and throwing first pitch strikes.

The Yankees home town home run barrage helped Burnett out with Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez hitting solo shots.  But the game winning 2-run rally, against Jays starter Brian Tallet, was accomplished with just one hit, an infield single.

Tied 1-1 in the 5th, Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter drew back to back walks to start the inning.  Johnny Damon laid down a good bunt along the first base line.  Tallet slipped as he fielded it, enabling Damon reach base safely.

Mark Teixeira earned the third walk of the inning to force in the go ahead run.  Tallet got A-Rod to bounce into a force out at home, but with Cano at the plate, catcher Raul Chavez committed a passed ball that allowed Jeter to score for a 3-1 Yankees lead.

Burnett struck out 7 and scattered 6 hits, including a solo home run by Vernon Wells in the 6th that cut the Yankees lead to 3-2.  He  stranded the tying run at first base when he got Aaron Hill to pop out to end the 7th.

New 8th inning setup men Phil Coke and Phil Hughes kept the Jays off the board for an inning before Mariano Rivera picked up his 21st save in the 9th.

Game Notes

A-Rod’s home run was #569, putting him two behind Rafael Palmiero.

After the game Joe Girardi made it official, Brian Bruney is out of the 8th inning set up role for now.

The  Yankees have their work cut off for them this afternoon when they send Chien-Ming Wang up against Roy Halliday.