Hill, Blue Jays steal one from the slumbering Yankees

TORONTO -- It's gotten so bad for the New York Yankees that opponents are stealing home on them.

Aaron Hill slid in safely ahead of Andy Pettitte's throw in the seventh inning and Alex Rios had a go-ahead sacrifice fly to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat New York, 3-2, last night.

"It seems like we're losing every way possible and tonight was no different," center fielder Johnny Damon said.

The Yankees (21-29) have lost five straight and 13 of 18 to fall eight games under .500 for the first time since they were 11-19 May 6, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"You can envision us struggling, just not this long," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "Every team scuffles at times but we've been scuffling for a long time now."

Boston's 4-2 victory over Cleveland last night dropped the Yankees a season-high 14 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.

"It's not getting any easier for us," manager Joe Torre said. "We just have to keep plugging. It's a mountain to climb right now."

Adam Lind led off the eighth with a double off Pettitte, went to third on a sacrifice, and scored on Rios's fly to center off Scott Proctor. Proctor threw his glove in the dugout after getting the final out of the inning.

Pettitte (3-4) allowed three runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.

"He's not getting any support from us right now and neither are any of our other pitchers," Damon said.

Jeremy Accardo (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win.

"I saw him running right away," catcher Jorge Posada said of Hill's steal of home. "I stood up and was screaming but obviously the fans were screaming, too."

Pettitte said he hesitated for a split second because he thought the umpire had called a balk.