NEW YORK -- A year ago, Justin Smoak became the first Toronto player to ever hit a grand slam in the Bronx.On Tuesday night, his bid to repeat the feat at Yankee Stadium fell just short.Brett Gardner made a leaping catch at the top of the left-field wall on Smoaks bases-loaded drive for the final out, and the Blue Jays fell to wild card-contending New York 7-6.We were two inches from scoring two more runs or maybe three, Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez said.A scrambly September game with October implications seesawed to the last swing, and turned at the end in favor of the Yankees. New York won its third in a row and sent Toronto to its fourth loss in five games. The Blue Jays fell back into a tie for first place in the AL East with Boston.The Blue Jays had already scored twice in the ninth off Dellin Betances when they loaded the bases with one out. Blake Parker, the eighth New York pitcher, suddenly became an unlikely closer, and he struck out Kevin Pillar.Smoak was up next, and he sliced a drive to deep left.Thought it might have had a chance, Smoak said, later adding, put a good swing on it, barreled it.Gardner ran back, jumped and corralled the ball at the top of the fence as he banged into the padding. He immediately leaped in the air to celebrate as the Yankees rushed out to congratulate him. A few minutes later, a replay of the catch drew another ovation from the fans.Gardner, hes been known to do that, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.The 29-year-old Smoak and 33-year-old Gardner know each other from growing up in South Carolina.Hes an old man, Smoak said, smiling.Tyler Austins two-run homer in the seventh off Sanchez put the Yankees ahead 3-2. Pillar lined a two-out, two-run double in the eighth that gave the Blue Jays a 4-3 edge.The Yankees then rallied for four runs in their half for a 7-4 lead, capped by Chase Headleys two-run homer. The drive off Jason Grilli (5-5) left the reliever bent over at the mound in frustration.With the Yankees running out of time to chase a playoff spot, manager Joe Girardi spared no expense with his staff. Chasen Shreve (2-1) wound up with the win and Parker got his first save since 2013 with the Cubs.Betances made it interesting in the ninth, walking the first two batters while working his third straight day. Edwin Encarnacion and Melvin Upton got RBI singles on infield hits to pull Toronto within a run.Sanchez threw seven innings and left with a 2.92 ERA. The Blue Jays are trying to limit his workload, giving the 24-year-old All-Star extra rest. He already has thrown more than 36 innings over his previous high in any season.Encarnacion hit his 37th homer into the second deck for Toronto and tied his career high with 111 RBI. He started the day tied with Angels slugger Albert Pujols for the league lead in RBI.ALMOSTSanchez nearly struck out the side on nine pitches in the fifth. He fanned Aaron Judge and Austin and got two quick strikes on Gardner before bouncing a changeup. Gardner eventually reached on an error.NICE GRABBlue Jays announcer and former manager Buck Martinez neatly snagged a foul ball by Bautista that flew into the broadcasting booth. No surprise -- he was a catcher for more than 17 seasons in the majors. He tossed the souvenir to kids.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki was back in the lineup, a day after manager John Gibbons said he needed a game to rest.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (9-6, 4.58) has allowed eight earned runs in 12 innings over his last two starts.Yankees: RHP Bryan Mitchell was promoted from Triple-A before the game and is likely to make his Yankees debut this year. Marlins Jerseys China . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Cheap Marlins Jerseys . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Fake Marlins Jerseys . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. LOGAN, Utah -- Koby McEwen and Jalen Moore combined for 37 points as Utah State pulled away from New Orleans in the second half for a 76-66 victory on Monday night.Moore, who now has 1,284 career points, made 5 of 8 field goal attempts for 18 points. McEwin led Utah State (6-4) with 19 points and had seven rebounds. Shane Rector chipped in 13 points.Utah State shot 63.2 percent (12 of 19) in the second half to finish with 24-of-48 shooting while limiting New Orleans to 40.7 percent.McEwwen drilled a 3-pointer and added two free throws with 1:11 left in the first half for a 31-29 advantage and the Aggies never trailed again.dddddddddddd New Orleans closed to 50-49 with 8:53 left in the game following two straight Christavious Gill layups. Sam Merrell responded with a trey to start an 11-5 run.Erik Thomas led New Orleans (4-6) with 21 points. ' ' '
