Blue Jays Video

Romero's scoreless start

Romero's fancy glove work

Yankees Video

Moseley's strong start

A-Rod's 599th career homer

The first time Romero faced the Yankees, he dominated, throwing eight innings of two-run ball in an extra-innings win. The second time through, however, Romero struggled, allowing seven hits and eight runs in only 2 2/3 innings. In that start, Romero allowed all of the runs during the Yankees' 11-run third inning.

"It was just a bad day," Romero said. "There's no other words." He added: "Usually, I'm pretty good when there's a guy on base. Unfortunately, in that inning, I just did a bad job of stopping the bleeding and it led to a lot of runs."

One of the consistent factors from Romero's first start against the Bronx Bombers this season to the second was that he didn't surrender a home run to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. In fact, in 15 career showdowns with Rodriguez, Romero has given up four hits, two walks and a double -- but no home runs.

Starting against Romero on Tuesday will be right-hander Dustin Moseley, who is filling in for injured lefty Andy Pettitte and earned the win on Thursday against the Indians in his first start as a member of the Yankees.

Rodriguez, of course, is trying to become the seventh player in Major League history to hit 600 home runs, but he's been stuck on No. 599 for 43 at-bats. Rodriguez last homered on July 22, against the Royals' Robinson Tejeda. He's already taken more time than anybody in history to move from No. 599 to No. 600 and went 0-for-5 in the Yankees' 8-6 loss to the Jays on Monday.

Perhaps the drought is affecting the Yankees, as well. The club has gone 6-5 since Rodriguez's last homer, and no longer has sole possession of first place in the American League East -- New York is tied with the Rays. Rodriguez is hitting .209 during the stretch, with three doubles.

"The way I'm swinging now, it's probably going to take a while -- everybody get comfortable," Rodriguez said on Saturday.

Rodriguez, who turned 35 on July 27, would be the youngest player by far to hit No. 600. The next-youngest, Babe Ruth, reached the mark at 36 years, 196 days.

"People are asking me about home runs," Rodriguez said. "I'm asking for a hit-by-pitch, infield hit, bunt single, error. I'll get on base anyhow. The home run will come."

Blue Jays: Hill is king
Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill is red hot. He began the day on July 10 hitting .188 for the season. Since then, a span of 18 games, he's hitting .313 with four home runs and four doubles. His average now stands at .209, his high-water mark since May 6, when he was hitting .210.

"The main thing, personally, was just getting that feel back," Hill said. "Whether it's confidence or just getting down, for the longest time, I just wasn't getting ready -- even though I thought I was."

Yankees: Berkman trying to adjust
It's still a bit strange for designated hitter Lance Berkman not to be playing for the Astros. Berkman, the Astros' first-round pick in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft, recorded his first Major League hit for a club not based in Houston when he singled on Sunday.

"I got the Astro routine down pat, and I can do it in my sleep," Berkman said. "I know what time the bus leaves, when to get my bags, who to talk to about any problems. Now, you're trying to learn the ropes. I'm just trying to fit in. All of those things go into being an emotional past 48 hours."

Berkman was acquired by the Yankees on Saturday in a deal before the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Worth noting
The Yankees' two other Deadline acquisitions were outfielder Austin Kearns and right-hander Kerry Wood. Kearns, traded by the Indians, is 2-for-6 with the Yankees. Wood, who also moved from Cleveland, struck out the side during a scoreless inning in his Yankees debut on Sunday. ... Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista was honored twice this week. Bautista hit .545 with five homers and 13 RBIs last week, earning a share of the AL Player of the Week Award. He was also honored by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America with the Honda Player of the Month Award.