The Yankees will send starter Clarke Schmidt to the mound Thursday at Toronto, trying to avoid a four-game sweep against the Blue Jays that would drop them into second place.

Down 7-0 in the first inning, the Yankees clawed all the way back to tie the game 9-9 in the eighth, only to watch the Toronto Blue Jays reclaim it in the ninth and win it 11-9. The loss not only stung emotionally but also cost New York sole possession of first place in the AL East.

The Toronto Blue Jays sit in a first-place tie atop the AL East with the New York Yankees. Barely a month ago, the Jays were eight games back. The Rays were seven back; now they're only half a game out.