open play for Atletico, while Fernando Torres went

NEW YORK -- If the New York Yankees reach the playoffs, theyll long remember this catch by Brett Gardner.Two outs in the ninth inning, bases loaded, one-run lead. Does it get much better?Gardner made a leaping grab at the top of the left-field wall, clutching the ball as he banged into the fence on Justin Smoaks drive for the final out, and the Yankees held off AL East-leading Toronto 7-6 Tuesday night.I knew I was going to be able to catch up to it and get to it, I just didnt know if I was going to run out of room or not, Gardner said.I knew it was going to be close to the wall -- thank goodness it wasnt much higher. Im not too tall and I wasnt going to be able to jump a whole lot higher, he 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 the Blue Jays to their fourth loss in five games.At a season-high seven games over .500, the Yankees closed within 4 1/2 games of first place, their smallest deficit since April, and remained 3 1/2 back for the ALs second wild card.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 -- in August 2015, he became the first Toronto player ever to hit a grand slam in the Bronx.This time, he sliced a deep shot to left.Thought it might have had a chance, Smoak said, later adding, put a good swing on it, barreled it.But Gardner ran back, squared himself on the warning track and jumped high and back into the padding. He held on for the catch, immediately leaped in the air to celebrate and tossed the ball high.I think as the ball went in to my glove, my glove hit the wall. And on a play like that, you want to make sure the ball goes in the glove before you hit the wall, he said.The Yankees rushed out to congratulate him and a few minutes later, a replay of the catch drew another ovation from the fans.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 AL ERA leader Aaron 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.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.Playing on his 25th birthday and batting ninth, Austin sliced a two-out drive to right-center. His only other homer came on Aug. 13 in his first major league at-bat.Brian McCann also homered for the Yankees.Little did anyone know what was on deck. In a game of timely hits, it was Gardners defensive play that thrilled the Yankees.Sheer joy, Parker said.NY NUMBERSThe Yankees had lost five straight home series to Toronto before winning the first two games in this three-game set. ... Austin became the first Yankees player to homer on his birthday since Alex Rodriguez last year. ... Rookie Gary Sanchez has reached base in 21 straight games.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, starting vs. Toronto. He injured a toe in spring training and missed most of this season. Hes 0-3 in stints the past two years with New York. Tyler Seguin Stars Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Dino Ciccarelli Stars Jersey .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/brian-bellows-hockey-jersey/ . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Bobby Smith Stars Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Esa Lindell Jersey . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi and Barcelona gave newly promoted Leganes a ruthless welcome to the Spanish league on Saturday.Messi repeatedly combined with Luis Suarez and Neymar as Barcelona eased to a 5-1 victory in its first ever visit to Leganes, a small club from southern Madrid playing its maiden campaign in the first division.The more than 10,000 blue-and-white clad fans who packed Butarque Stadium witnessed the cold hard truth of playing against the best of the top flight.Messi scored twice, once from the penalty spot, giving him five goals in two matches in a five-day span.The win came before Barcelona clashes with Atletico Madrid, which matched the defending champions win with a 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Gijon.Boisterous at kickoff, the cheers from the Leganes crowd diminished with each goal until Gabriel Appelt gave them reason to celebrate when he scored from a free kick with 10 minutes remaining.By that time the result was long beyond doubt, following additional goals from Suarez and Neymar that Messi played a part in setting up before Rafina struck Barcelonas fifth from distance.Our fans demonstrated how much love they have for this team, Appelt said. (But) you make even the smallest little mistake and they punish you.Last weekend, Barcelona left Messi and Suarez on the bench against Alaves, only to see the promoted side snatch a rare 2-1 win at Camp Nou.Lesson learned.Coach Luis Enrique started Messi and Suarez, and they linked with striker partner Neymar to outclass their hosts.After the loss to Alaves we had to win today so we could confidently face the match against Atletico, Suarez said. I dont care which one of us scores as long as it helps the team.Playing just its fourth match in the top flight in its 88-year history, Leganes opted to be daring when facing the five-time European champion.Leganes had reason to trust coach Asier Garitano, who led it up from the third division to the first in only three years. The team started the season wwith a 1-0 win at Celta Vigo and a 0-0 draw against Atletico.dddddddddddd.Its high defensive line, however, only left Barcelonas big three with plenty of room to romp.Im not worried. This can happen in the first division, Garitano said. We took risks. We had the plan to pressure them and perhaps catch them expecting us to sit back. That team is so, so good.Leganes joined Real Madrid and Atletico as the third team from the Spanish capital in the top division, following the relegation of Getafe and Rayo Vallecano last season.ATLETICO MADRID 5, SPORTING GIJON 0Antoine Griezmann ensured Atleticos home match against Sporting Gijon was a similar, one-sided affair.The France forward scored twice for the second consecutive league match.Kevin Gameiro netted his first goal from open play for Atletico, while Fernando Torres went on as a second-half substitute and scored twice, including one penalty.Its good that we all chip in, that those who come off the bench also do their part, Torres said. Now is a good moment to visit Barcelona.EIBAR 1, SEVILLA 1For a second week in a row, Eibar fought back to earn points after having its goalkeeper sent off.Sevilla was up a goal and a man when Yoel Rodriguez saw a direct red for fouling Carlos Correa a minute before halftime.But Eibar continued to create more attacks than Sevilla, and Pedro Leon leveled to cancel out Luciano Viettos opener in the 64th.Eibar finished with nine men after Dani Garcia also earned a red card for an ugly foul on Vietto.In the last round, Eibar fought back to beat Granada 2-1 after goalie Asier Riesgo was sent off.LAS PALMAS 1, MALAGA 0Las Palmas continued its strong start by beating Malaga thanks to Jeronimo Momo Figueroas early penalty.The Canary Island clubs third win in four rounds lifted it into third place, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, which visits Espanyol on Sunday. ' ' '