Yankees 4 Blue Jays 3 (11 ings)
NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez lost feeling in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in the 11th inning. Jorge Posada was so banged up that he compared the game to a boxing match. Derek Jeter’s bruised right foot felt so bad he actually acknowledged the injury.
This was one frightening victory for the New York Yankees.
Robinson Cano drove in Rodriguez with a game-ending RBI single, and the Yankees capped a successful homestand with a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Rodriguez and Jeter both had X-rays that were negative, and Posada’s right hand was swollen after a particularly brutal foul ball in the eighth inning. A-Rod was already scheduled for a day off, but Jeter and Posada also might rest when New York opens a 10-game trip at Seattle on Thursday night.
“I’m glad that we got it done then because if Alex couldn’t play I heard (backup catcher Jose) Molina was going to go to third base, something like that,” Posada said. “He was the only guy available on the bench.”
Closer Mariano Rivera also was held out after manager Joe Girardi said the right-hander’s arm was cranky when he showed up to the ballpark. Rivera allowed one run and two hits before finishing for the save in Tuesday night’s 7-5 victory.
“We weren’t going to use him today,” Girardi said. “I’d be shocked if he’s not ready tomorrow.”
Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said Rivera was going to meet the team in Seattle. When asked why he wasn’t travelling with the club, Zillo would only say the reason was “non-medical.”
Rodriguez got the winning rally started when he was hit by Shawn Camp (1-6) with one out. He stayed down for a short period after he was struck on his left elbow, but remained in the game after visiting with Girardi and a trainer.
“Hopefully back on board on Friday,” the slugger said.
Rodriguez moved up on Posada’s single and scored when Cano lined Camp’s first pitch into the gap in right-centre, leading to another post-game whipped cream pie for the second baseman from starter A.J. Burnett.
“That’s not feeling good but it’s great,” Cano said of Burnett’s celebratory gesture.
Cano also homered for New York (71-43), which has won nine of 10 to move a season-best 28 games over .500. Chad Gaudin (1-0) worked two scoreless innings to win his Yankees debut.
Local product Randy Ruiz homered for the second straight day for the Blue Jays, who finished with 14 hits. The Bronx native and former Yankees farmhand was promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and hit a solo shot in Toronto’s 7-5 loss that night — his first major league game in his hometown.
Blue Jays rookie Ricky Romero pitched six solid innings, allowing three runs and four hits. The left-hander has lasted at least six innings in each of his last four starts.