Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2
Ivan Nova won his seventh consecutive start as the New York Yankees took over the top spot in the American League East, edging the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.
Brett Gardner belted a two-run home run - his first since Aug. 7 - to help move the Yankees a half-game clear of Boston atop the East. The Red Sox were walloped 10-0 by Texas.
Nova (15-4) improved to 11-0 in his last 12 starts, allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings. He has not lost since June 3.
Gardner, mired in a 4-for-37 slump, tied the game at 2-2 with his fifth homer of the year off Brandon Morrow in the third inning. It was his first extra-base hit in 11 games.
Robinson Cano singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to six games. He has hit safely in 23 of his last 24 games.
Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his 37th save, and the 596th of his career.
Morrow (9-10) lost his third straight start, giving up three runs on four hits in six innings.
Toronto scored both its runs in the first inning on Jose Bautista's RBI single and Adam Lind's sacrifice fly.