--RF Alex Rios kept his hitting streak against the Yankees alive with a ninth-inning single in his fifth plate appearance of the day. 

After a far-from-perfect end to their road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays should be glad to be headed home. 

Yankees manager Joe Girardi sat in the dugout discussing whether to bring in a pinch-runner for Jason Giambi, confident that the sore-footed slugger could reach base with two outs in the ninth inning and New York trailing by one. 

Pinch-hitter Jason Giambi connected for a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the New York Yankees a 9-8 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. 

Jesse Litsch came into Wednesday's game with a 7-1 record and a simple game plan. 

--C Rod Barajas was forced to leave Wednesday's game with tightness in his lower back. 

MEDICAL WATCH: C Rod Barajas (lower back tightness) left the June 4 game. 

If the New York Yankees didn't already know just how important Jorge Posada is to their team, they've certainly found out in the last 5 1/2 weeks. 

Mike Mussina has spent much of his 18-year career near the top of the American League leader board. 

Mike Mussina tied for the American League lead in wins, Derek Jeter passed Mickey Mantle on the Yankees career hits list and New York played a crisp, compact ballgame in beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 Wednesday night. 

MEDICAL WATCH: 2B Aaron Hill (concussion) was injured May 29 and missed games from May 30-June 3. 

--With his single in the seventh inning, CF Alex Rios extended his hit streak against the Yankees to 24 games. 

All the pregame talk was about Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain. 

It wasn't very pretty. 

It wasn't very pretty.