BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Without another clutch hit by Hideki Matsui and some timely relief pitching by Chris Hammond, the New York Yankees may have had their first losing streak of the season and Jose Contreras would not have had his first win.
Matsui belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and Hammond nearly retired Frank Catalanotto on a triple play in the ninth as the Yankees held on for a wild 10-9 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
In a contest that featured 12 pitchers who threw nearly 400 pitches and issued 20 walks, Matsui's second career homer gave New York a 9-6 lead. Following Matsui's blast into the upper deck in right field off rookie Aquilino Lopez (0-1), the Yankees tacked on a run on an infield single by Alfonso Soriano.
"It was a slider that didn't slide," Matsui said through an interpreter. "It kind of hung in there in the strike zone, pretty close to the middle. I knew that it was going to a be a home run. I just didn't know that it would be that high."
"Another weapon for them to have," Toronto manager Carlos Tosca said. "He doesn't try to do too much with the ball. Obviously one in his wheelhouse is going to do some damage."
Before Monday, Matsui had delivered a grand slam in the home opener against Minnesota and a game-winning base hit Saturday against Tampa Bay.
Matsui went 2-for-3 and the three-time home run champion in the Japan Central League raised his batting average to .306 and his RBI total to 14.
His homer also helped the Yankees improve to 10-2 for the third time. They were also 10-2 in 1922 and 1949.
"I wasn't anticipating the team getting off to this good a start," Matsui said. "But obviously it is great. It feels great to contribute to the team winning, but it is more than me getting the job done."
Matsui's latest big hit made a winner out of Contreras (1-0). In his first appearance at Yankee Stadium, the Cuban righthander notched the victory despite allowing a run, two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.
With the Yankees' bullpen struggling to shut down the Blue Jays, Soriano's hit turned out to be the difference.
After starter Andy Pettitte labored through 4 1/3 innings, five relievers combined to surrender four runs and seven hits over the final 4 2/3 frames.
"I'm very happy," Contreras said through an interpreter. "I was anxious to pitch at Yankee Stadium and thankfully I was given the opportunity today. I helped my team get a victory and for that I am very happy."
Contreras' appearances had been limited due to every New York starter lasting an average of six innings before Monday. But after rookie Jason Anderson issued three walks and got one out in the fifth, manager Joe Torre called on Contreras.
"He's not totally comfortable because he is not out there enough," Torre said. "It's not his fault. It's partially my fault because finding him time depends on so many things - like how well your starter did. I certainly can't fault him."
Contreras allowed Eric Hinske's two-run single in a four-run fifth. But former Blue Jay Raul Mondesi's two-run homer in the bottom of the inning forged a 6-6 tie and Contreras struck out Catalanotto and got Vernon Wells to hit into a double play.
With the Yankee holding a 10-6 lead, Contreras departed after issuing walks to Carlos Delgado and Tom Wilson in the seventh. Antonio Osuna came on and allowed Hinske's RBI single and walked Chris Woodward before striking out the final two batters in the seventh and the leadoff hitter in the eighth.
But on consecutive pitches, Osuna allowed a single to Wells and a two-base hit to Delgado, forcing Torre to call upon Juan Acevedo to get a five-out save.
But Acevedo gave way to Hammond after Shannon Stewart's single made it a two-run game. With runners at first and third, Hammond got Catalanotto to hit into a double play. It would have been a triple play if Orlando Hudson did not beat first baseman Nick Johnson's throw to the plate.
"It would have been awesome," New York catcher Jorge Posada said. "Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him coming and I thought we could do it. When I saw him coming, I tried to get back, but just couldn't get there."
Hammond retired Wells on a long fly ball to center field, recording his first save as a Yankee.
"Calm down, and just pitch," Hammond said. "It was very exciting for me. Every pitcher has to get themselves ready for ups and downs."
"I never paid attention to the man at third and that is what I told Hammond," Torre said. "Then he gets the ground ball and I see the throw to second. I look away for a split second and I see the throw coming home and I think, 'hey we hit the lottery here'".
Toronto starter Tanyon Sturtze, who had won his first two decisions, was reached for six runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings with a career-high seven walks. The Yankees scored once in the first and added three more in the third on Posada's three-run homer.
In the opener of a season-high 11-game road trip, the Blue Jays dropped their fifth straight and remained winless in four games this season against New York.
"We're in a funk pitching-wise with all those walks," Tosca said. "I'm not pleased with it. But we were still able to get back into the game, right until the final out."
