NEW YORK -- Sensing the seasons dwindling days, the New York Yankees opened their penultimate homestand by falling behind on Masahiro Tanakas seventh pitch of a sunny Labor Day afternoon.Jacoby Ellsbury turned the deficit into a lead on R.A. Dickeys third offering of the day, and New York remained on the periphery of contention for a postseason berth with four weeks remaining.Ellsbury drove a 73 mph knuckleball over the right-field short porch for a two-run homer, then added an RBI single to lead the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Monday and keep New York 3 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race.Its almost imperative, said Brett Gardner, who singled one pitch ahead of Ellsburys seventh homer. At this point, we have to win every series the rest of the way. Weve got to play well, and two-out-of-three is the worst-case scenario for us.Starting a 10-game homestand that includes four games against Tampa Bay and three vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York (71-65) matched its season high of six games over .500.AL East-leading Toronto (77-60), which remained one game ahead of Boston, had been 9-3 against the Yankees this year and won seven of the prior eight matchups. The Blue Jays jumped in front when Devon Travis doubled and Jose Bautista singled, both on 0-2 counts.I felt like I was all over the place, Tanaka said through a translator.Tanaka (12-4) gave up three hits in the first but only one run, helped when Bautista got thrown out at the plate on a grounder, and settled down to win his fifth straight decision.Gardner took a strike in the bottom half and singled to center, and Ellsbury drove a high knuckler 351 feet. Ellsbury had three hits, including two against Dickey that lifted his average against the knuckleballer to .306 (11 for 36).You just try to anticipate it falling back in the zone, Ellsbury said. Last time he threw me a fastball, I hit a triple.Ellsbury added an RBI single in the third, and rookie Travis Austin hit his second double of the game in the fourth, a drive off the wall in left-center that drove in two runs for a 5-1 lead.Tanaka allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, leaving after a leadoff walk and a fly ball by Dioner Navarro that 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge caught against the top of the right-field wall.Jonathan Holder, who made his big league debut Friday, got an out but walked his next two batters. Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run, opposite-field single to right off Ben Heller for his third hit, and Tommy Layne -- New Yorks third straight rookie reliever -- retired pitch hitter Russell Martin on a looping ball to second baseman Starlin Castro.Dellin Betances, the Yankees sixth pitcher, got three straight outs for his ninth save.Dickey (9-14) allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings on a blustery afternoon, his second shortest start this season. He is 0-6 in his last nine starts at Yankee Stadium.I had a lot of movement on it, he said of his knuckler. Sometimes this games a matter of centimeters, you know, one that gets off the barrel, doesnt get off the barrel and its popped out to right field.MOVING INEric Young Jr. took over Alex Rodriguezs locker stall and Greg Bird moved into Carlos Beltrans. Bird, sidelined all season following surgery in February to repair a right labrum tear, hit in a batting cage for the first time since the operation. He expects to face pitching in the instructional league for two weeks starting Sept. 26 and play in the Arizona Fall League.POWER OUTAGENew York had 15 hits, all singles, in the weekend series at Baltimore, the first big league team to go without an extra-base hit in a series of three games or longer since the Chicago White Sox at Minnesota from Sept. 14-16, 2004. The Yankees had not done that since July 26-28, 1974, also at Baltimore.SLIDINGJudge was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .169, and has 35 strikeouts in 65 at-bats. ... Didi Gregorius is in a 1-for-19 slump.TOP SPYJohn O. Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, threw out a ceremonial first pitch.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: With RHP Chad Green sidelined with an elbow injury, manager Joe Girardi said his starting pitcher Wednesday could be Bryan Mitchell, who broke a toe in spring training and has a 4.29 ERA in six minor league rehabilitation starts. Girardi said his other option was Johnny Wholestaff -- a reference to using a combination of relievers. Green is expected to have a contrast agent MRI on Tuesday. ... OF Aaron Hicks was placed on the 15-day DL with a right hamstring strain, a move retroactive to Thursday.UP NEXTRHP Luis Cessa (4-0) is to start for the Yankees on Tuesday and RHP Aaron Sanchez (13-2) goes for the Blue Jays. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Cheap Jerseys . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. http://www.jerseyswholesale.pro/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Cheap NCAA Jerseys China . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.Everton manager Roberto Martinez faces a massive dilemma in his selection for the Merseyside derby, according to Liverpool legend Phil Thompson. The Toffees face the first of a crunch double-header when they visit Anfield on Wednesday night - live on Sky Sports 1 HD - before travelling down to Wembley to take on Manchester United in Saturdays FA Cup semi-final.Martinezs side sit in mid-table ahead of their short trip to face Jurgen Klopps in-form team, but Thommo believes the Spaniard will be wary of a further backlash in the event of a defeat - and faces a critical period in his Goodison Park tenure. Thommos Sky Bet tips Find out what Thommo is predicting for Liverpool v Everton at 22/1 here. Liverpool followed up an epic Europa League comeback against Dortmund with a Premier League victory at Bournemouth These two games are going to be the biggest calls of his Everton career, the Soccer Saturday pundit said.If he was to lose both then that would be huge, huge pressure and its a massive dilemma because theres no forgiveness when you lose a derby. Everton supporters have protested against their manager after a disappointing league season Its a difficult one for Everton because Martinez is under extreme pressure from the fans and theres local pride at stake.He might think that the FA Cup semi-final is now the most important game but this a derby game and I know a lot of Evertonians that would say theres still a lot at stake. Leighton Baines will be assessed ahead of Wednesdays showdown The Everton boss rejected suggestions he could rest stars in preparation for Wembley when he gave his pre-derby press conference and Thommo believes boosting confidence is more important for Martinez than granting players additional rest.I would play the strongest team to get a result. Even a draw would be huge boost, not just for local pride but to give them confidence going into the United game, he added. Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman are out of the Merseyside Derby but will they be fit for Evertons FA Cup semi-final? There are only half a dozen games left so I dont see why he really needs to rest players, especially given the amount of changes he made at the weekend.ddddddddddddn contrast, Thommo believes Jurgen Klopp is able to continue to rotate ahead of their Europa League semi-final next Thursday, after seeing his side win 2-1 at Bournemouth on Sunday despite making 10 changes. We look back at the Merseyside derby from March 2006 where Liverpool survived the early dismissal of Steven Gerrard to beat Everton 3-1 at Anfield It doesnt help Evertons chances that Klopp can afford to play his strongest side again and then rest them all at the weekend, Thommo said.Hes also seen the players coming in can do a job from the performance at Bournemouth, so hes got plenty of options. Also See: Klopp calls for cool heads Merseyside derby classics Cheap Authentic Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store China Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys China NFL Hoodies Cheap Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Camo China NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China ' ' '