Swisher Slams Jays, Yanks Complete The Sweep

It wasn’t the prettiest win of the season and it got a little scary late in the game but the Yankees were able to hold off the Blue Jays and complete a three-game sweep.

had an odd outing. He only lasted five innings – throwing 102 pitches, gave up four runs on four hits, walked three and struck out nine – including four in one inning.

Offensively for the Yankees, had one heck of series. He was 9-12 overall – 2-4 tonight with a double and a home run. He hit three doubles in the three-game set, collected four RBI and stole four bases.

The big story for the Yankees was their fourth inning offensive outburst in which they scored seven runs before recording an out:

• walked
• Martin stole second
• safe at first on second baseman ‘s fielding error, Martin to third
• walked, Granderson to second
• Ichiro doubled to right, Martin and Granderson scored, McGehee to third
• relieved
•   walked
• singled to shallow right center, McGehee scored, Ichiro to third, Nix to second
• homered to deep right, Ichiro, Nix and Jeter scored

It was 8-2 at the start of the fifth inning.

Toronto answered with two runs in the next half inning – shutdown innings, what are those? – thanks to a two-run home run by but the Yankees struck back with two more in the bottom of the fifth. Nix hit an RBI double and a Jeter followed with an RBI single.

After a scoreless sixth and seventh, the Blue Jays scored three runs in the eighth to cut the score to 10-7, setting up a save situation.

was called upon to shut the door on the Jays. Robertson, who struggled in the day game yesterday, struck out the side to pick up his second save of the season and help the Yankees nail down the sweep.

Some facts:

• The Yankees now have 10 grand slams on the year which matches their single-season high (2011, 2010 and 1987).
• Jeter has a 14-game hitting streak.
• Swisher’s grand slam was the seventh of his career.
• Hughes earned his 16th win of the season.
• Thanks to the YES postgame show for this nugget: Hughes is 7-1 in his last nine home starts. He has a 2.70 ERA, opponents are hitting .221 against him he’s given up nine home runs and he’s walked 16 while striking out 47.