 07/12/2003 4:17 PM ET
Jays set to go into break on a roll
New York (56-36) at Toronto (49-45), p.m. 1:05 ET
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By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
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• Yankees preview
After skidding for the better part of two weeks, the Blue Jays badly
needed a win on Saturday. That's exactly what they got, courtesy of Roy
Halladay's extended victory tour. Toronto's ace hasn't lost in three
months, and he used his considerable skills to stop his team's latest
skid.
Kelvim Escobar
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Kelvim Escobar, who has pitched well since moving into the regular
rotation, drew the tough assignment of following that act. The right-hander
hasn't earned a win in any of his last four starts, but that's not an
indictment. Escobar exited with a lead in each of his last two starts,
but the bullpen couldn't seal the deal. New York will hand the ball to
Jeff Weaver in the first-half finale.
Even with Saturday's result, the Yanks have only lost once at SkyDome
this season. Despite that fact, the Blue Jays have done relatively well,
winning six of the last eight games. Toronto has only won the season
series once in the past four years -- overall, the Yanks have won 42 of
the last 72 games played. In the last 30 games at SkyDome played between
these two teams, they both own a 15-15 record.
Pitching
matchup:
NYY: RHP Jeff Weaver
4-7, 5.52 in 2003
1-1, 2.84 vs. TOR in 2003
4-7, 5.38 lifetime vs. TOR
TOR: RHP Kelvim Escobar
5-5, 4.27 in 2003
1-0, 7.71 vs. NYY in 2003
4-4, 4.63 lifetime vs. NYY
Players to watch:
Collectively, the Blue Jays are batting just .284 (50-for-176) against
Weaver. Four of Toronto's best hitters -- Shannon Stewart, Carlos
Delgado, Vernon Wells and Eric Hinske -- have combined to bat .368
(35-for-95) against Weaver. Frank Catalanotto and Mike Bordick, meanwhile, have
gone just 3-for-29 (.104) against him.
On the Internet:
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
Gameday
On television:
Yankees: YES
Blue Jays: TSN
On radio:
Yankees: WCBS 880 AM, WADO 1280 AM (Spanish)
Blue Jays: Fan 590 AM
Quick hits:
Despite Saturday's win, the Blue Jays have still lost 11 of their last
14 games. They've also lost six of the last seven at SkyDome, which
gives them a 23-23 record at home. ...Toronto passed 1 million in
attendance on Friday night, just their 45th home game of the season. Last year,
it took 52 games for the Jays to reach that mark. ...Toronto's 49
wins in 94 games is nine games off the best start in franchise history.
By contrast, it's 20 games better than the worst mark.
On deck:
Monday -- Day Off
Tuesday -- All-Star Game
Wednesday -- Day Off
Thursday @ Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Friday @ Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday @ Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was
not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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