Two teams chasing ...
	July 22, 2006 The Blue Jays will hand the ball over to Ted Lilly today, who will be looking for his second consecutive victory. In his last start, a 10-1 win over Texas, the southpaw tossed eight impressive innings, surrendering just one run on seven hits. On his home mound this season, the 30-year-old is 6-4 in 11 starts and has a solid 3.27 ERA. In his only start against the Bronx Bombers this season Lilly allowed just two runs, but walked five batters in just five innings en route to the setback. As for the Yankees, Chien-Ming Wang will toe the rubber in search of his third straight win. Wang has posted two consecutive strong outings, allowing just three runs on 13 hits in 15 1/3 innings of duty. In his last start, a 4-2 victory over Seattle, the righthander allowed just two runs on seven hits en route to his 10th victory of the season. The 26-year-old has been inconsistent throughout the season on the road, posting just a 3-3 ledger with a 4.88 ERA in nine starts. Last night, Troy Glaus went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and four runs batted in as the Blue Jays beat New York, 7-3. Lyle Overbay had a pair of hits and drove in two runs and Frank Catalanotto scored two runs for the Blue Jays, who have won five of their last seven games and pulled within two games of the second place Yankees in the AL East. A.J. Burnett (2-3) picked up the win with 7 1/3 stellar innings of work. He gave up three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out six with a season-high 121 pitches. Alex Rodriguez, with one swing, collected his 2,000th career hit and became the youngest player in major league history to hit 450 home runs. Rodriguez is 30 years, 359 days old, while Ken Griffey Jr. was 31 years, 261 days old when he hit his 450th homer. He is also just the eighth player in history with 2,000 hits before his 31st birthday, joining Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Joe Medwick, Jimmie Foxx and Robin Yount. Starter Jaret Wright (6-6) absorbed the loss, yielding five runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in just 2 2/3 innings for the Yankees, who have lost three in a row after winning their previous five games. After the game, the Blue Jays got rid of their baggage dealing disgruntled infielder Shea Hillenbrand to the San Francisco Giants. The Blue Jays traded Hillenbrand and right-handed reliever Vinnie Chulk to the Giants in exchange for right-hander Jeremy Accardo. Hillenbrand blasted the Toronto organization before Wednesday's game against Texas and was then designated for assignment by the club. He ripped the team for not being in the starting lineup for the second straight game after returning to the club following three days off to complete the adoption of a baby girl. Hillenbrand was also upset about not being congratulated by the team's front office on the adoption. Hillenbrand was also criticized by Blue Jays manager John Gibbons in a closed-door meeting, and Gibbons reportedly challenged Hillenbrand to a fight. The Blue Jays hold a slim 4-3 lead over the Yankees in the season series, but New York has won eight of its last 13 games at Rogers Centre and finished 6-2 there a year ago.