Toronto — Alex Rodriguez finally came through in the clutch, hitting a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to help the New York Yankees rally past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 Thursday night.
After the Yankees came back from a 4-0 deficit to tie it, Derek Jeter drew a leadoff walk from Jason Frasor (4-4) in the ninth. Gary Sheffield doubled before Rodriguez lined an 0-2 pitch down the left-field line for a two-run single and a 6-4 lead.
Frustrated by failures with runners on all season, Rodriguez slammed his bat to the turf in satisfaction as he ran to first.
He entered the at-bat hitting just .197 (23-for-117) with runners in scoring position. He grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the fifth, falling to 0-for-10 with the bases loaded this season.
Hideki Matsui added an RBI single off Frasor to score Rodriguez, who was all smiles in the dugout afterward while sitting between Jeter and batting coach Don Mattingly.
C.J. Nitkwoski (1-1) got two outs in the eighth for his first win with the Yankees. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 44th save in 47 chances.
New York remained 51/2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East.
The Yankees have won eight of 10 this year against Toronto, which has lost 16 of 22 overall. It was the seventh time this season New York overcame a four-run deficit to win after not doing it at all last year.
Carlos Delgado and Orlando Hudson homered for the last-place Blue Jays, who have lost three straight.
Delgado hit a two-run homer off Jon Lieber in the first, and Hudson added a two-run shot in the third.
Rookie David Bush — making his first career start against New York — pitched four hitless innings before the Yankees scored three runs in the fifth. After shortstop Chris Woodward's throwing error allowed Jorge Posada to reach, John Olerud singled for New York's first hit. Miguel Cairo and Kenny Lofton followed with consecutive singles, scoring Posada.
Bernie Williams added a sacrifice fly and Jeter hit an RBI single, cutting Toronto's lead to 4-3. Bush walked Sheffield to load the bases, but Rodriguez grounded into his inning-ending double play.
Lofton chased Bush with a tying single in the sixth.
