Colon goes for Yanks north of the border

Bartolo Colon tries for his first win in eight starts this game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Colon did not get a decision last Friday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but was terrific, as he allowed just an unearned run and six hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss.

"Every time I pitch, I try to go more than seven innings," Colon said through an interpreter. "That's my goal. That's what I'm always thinking about."

Still, he hasn't won since July 30 and is 8-9 on the year with a 3.55 earned run average.

"He had really good late movement on his fastball, and that's when he's really good," catcher Russell Martin said. "He was locating that pitch really well. He looked as good as he has all year today."

Colon has faced the Jays 22 times and is 9-5 against them with a 4.09 ERA.

Toronto, meanwhile, will counter with right-handed rookie Henderson Alvarez, who is 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA. Alvarez did not get a decision last Saturday against Baltimore, as he allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings of a 5-4 win.

Alvarez, who will be making his first appearance against the Yanks, had not allowed a run in 14 innings of his two previous starts.

The Yankees' recent road woes continued on Friday, as Jose Molina hit a game- winning, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to vault the Blue Jays to a 5-4 win.

Boone Logan (5-3) allowed an Adam Lind leadoff double and intentionally walked Brett Lawrie before Cory Wade came on in relief. Molina, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth, belted a 1-1 fastball into the right- center gap to plate the winning run.

Casey Janssen (5-0) tossed two innings of scoreless relief for the Blue Jays, who have won seven of 10.

Eric Chavez hit a two-run homer and Nick Swisher went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Yankees, who saw their lead over Boston for first place in the AL East fall to 3 1/2 games, as the Red Sox beat the Rays on Friday night.

The Yanks are now 3-5 on this current 10-game road trip.

New York starter CC Sabathia, seeking his 20th win of the season, allowed four runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in the no-decision.

"They made him work," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "I didn't think his command tonight was as great as it's been.

Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera also remained stuck on 600 saves and enters tonight's tilt one save shy of tying Trevor Hoffman's all-time record.

New York has won 10 of its 16 meetings with the Jays this season.