=== New York Yankees Team Report - September 21 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The New York Yankees will try to strengthen their hold on first place in the American league East this evening when they continue their three- game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

New York will pin its hopes on struggling righthander Esteban Loaiza, who was the runner-up to Toronto's starter Roy Halladay in last season's Cy Young voting. This year, though, Loaiza has fallen on hard times and is just 9-7 with a 5.52 ERA and has been banished to the bullpen with the Yankees.

Since being acquired from Chicago for the equally inconsistent Jose Contreras, Loaiza is 0-2 with a 8.51 ERA in seven games - five starts.

Loaiza, who pitched two-plus seasons in Toronto, is 2-3 for his career against the Blue Jays with a 4.35 ERA in eight games - seven starts.

In the opener of the set on Monday, Gustavo Chacin pitched seven-plus innings of solid ball to pick up a win in his major league debut, as the Blue Jays held on for a 6-3 win.

Derek Jeter, who made an out with the bases full twice, ended 1-for-5 for the Yankees, who lost for just the second time in six outings. Toronto's newest closer, Miguel Batista, got Jeter to ground out in the ninth, extending Jeter's streak to 129 at-bats without a grand slam.

Javier Vazquez (14-10) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 frames. He struck out three and walked four, failing to make an argument for manager Joe Torre to include him the postseason rotation.

Alex Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs, as New York wasted an opportunity to extend its lead over Boston in the AL East race. The Red Sox lost to the Baltimore Orioles, 9-6, and remain 4 1/2 games back. New York's magic number is still at 10.

New York needs 15 home runs in its final 13 games to tie the club record of 240, set in 1961.

New York, though, will likely again be without its MVP candidate Gary Sheffield, who received two cortisone shots in his aching left shoulder on Sunday night. He could return tomorrow.

New York is 52-23 at home this season.

The Yankees have won 10 of their 14 matchups with the Blue Jays this season, including five of seven in the Bronx.