NEW YORK -- David Phelps put his pitches in all the right places against a struggling team that was stuck in the wrong spot. Hank Aaron Jersey . Phelps threw seven strong innings, Carlos Beltran drove in two runs and the New York Yankees beat Toronto 6-4 Thursday night for their 16th consecutive home win over the Blue Jays. "Everything was a little bit crisper today," Phelps said. "I was able to be aggressive the entire game." Jacoby Ellsbury stole two bases, scored twice and hit one of three early sacrifice flies for the Yankees off Drew Hutchison. New York swiped four bags in all and scratched out its fifth run when Brett Gardner was going as Derek Jeter hit an RBI groundout -- preventing an inning-ending double play. Phelps (3-4) yielded two runs and struck out seven in winning his second straight outing after a four-start skid. The Yankees earned their first three-game sweep at home this season and sliced Torontos lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 games. "Big series for us," reliever Adam Warren said after New York won for the seventh time in nine games. "Its nice to kind of see our team click a little bit and play some good baseball." Citing research by the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yankees said the winning streak against Toronto is their longest at home against one team since a 19-game run vs. Cleveland from June 1960 to April 1962. Melky Cabrera and Edwin Encarnacion each hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have lost nine of 12 and were swept for the first time since Sept. 10-12 last season by the Los Angeles Angels. Toronto has dropped 25 of 27 at Yankee Stadium dating to 2011 and hasnt won in the Bronx since Aug. 29, 2012. "Hey, if youre going to play in prime time, youve got to perform on the big stage and we didnt do it," manager John Gibbons said. "Were fully capable of doing it. We just didnt do it. Itll be definitely good to move on." With closer David Robertson receiving a rest, Warren got two outs for his second save -- ending a rhythm-less game that took 3 hours, 47 minutes. Gibbons was on the field five times in the first six innings for four discussions with the umpires, plus a pitching change. Phelps equaled his career high with 115 pitches and finished strong. He retired pinch-hitter Adam Lind with two on to end the sixth and then struck out two in a perfect seventh. "We really pushed him tonight," manager Joe Girardi said. "He did a great job." The right-hander was fired up, too, clenching his fist and yelling after freezing Jose Reyes for strike three with his final delivery. Phelps made a key defensive play to protect a one-run lead in the fifth. He got Reyes on a soft grounder with the infield in, pinning a runner at third, and then knocked down Cabreras two-out comebacker. Phelps whirled around and scrambled to find the ball near the front of the mound, then zipped a throw to first just in time. "I knew that it went down. I knew it wasnt going to be far away, I just had to get my eyes on it," Phelps said. "Straight scramble mode as soon as it hit me." Cabrera tripped awkwardly over the bag and tumbled hard to the turf, but appeared to be fine. Phelps also picked off Cabrera at second base with two runners on in the first inning and Encarnacion at the plate. Phelps and Girardi both called it the biggest play of the game. "The way our teams been playing right now, its exciting baseball," Phelps said. Encarnacion hit his 21st homer in the eighth, a long drive to left off Shawn Kelley that cut it to 6-4. Yankees hitters ran up Hutchisons pitch count early, just as they did against fellow youngster Marcus Stroman in the series opener. Kelly Johnson had a sacrifice fly in the second and Beltran added one in the third. Making his Yankee Stadium debut, Hutchison (5-5) threw 38 pitches in the second inning and needed 76 to get through three. He was pulled in the fifth trailing 3-2. "Youve got to make better pitches," Hutchison said. "When I got ahead I didnt make good pitches to put them away, and I fell behind quite a bit, too." Beltran hit an RBI double off Aaron Loup, and Brian Roberts stole two bases in the sixth before scoring on Jeters groundout. Steve Delabar walked three in the seventh, including Yangervis Solarte with the bases loaded to make it 6-2. NOTES: Toronto has seven more games scheduled at Yankee Stadium this year. The Blue Jays return on July 25. ... Lind had been sidelined since leaving Saturdays game in Baltimore with a bruised right foot. ... Lights-out Yankees reliever Dellin Betances was unavailable after pitching three scoreless innings in the first two games of the series, Girardi said. ... Johnson was shaken up and removed after the ball hit his left hand when he fouled off a bunt in the sixth. Solarte pinch-hit with a full count and struck out. X-rays on Johnson were negative and he is day to day with bruised fingers. Bobby Cox Jersey . -- A lawyer for the fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez asked a judge Friday to throw out perjury charges, saying Shayanna Jenkins did not wilfully lie as she was bombarded with 1,630 questions over two days before a grand jury. Preston Tucker Jersey . The 18-time champions, who havent won the title since 1990, moved two points behind Arsenal after the leaders were stunned 6-3 at Manchester City on Saturday. Defending champion Manchester United trails Arsenal by 10 points after winning 3-0 at Aston Villa to avoid a third successive league loss. http://www.thebravesteamshop.com/Braves-Ozzie-Albies-Kids-Jersey/ . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. VANCOUVER -- Nicklas Jensen is likely not being sent back to the minors any time soon. The Vancouver Canucks rookie helped keep his teams flickering playoff hopes alive Wednesday night as he scored the only goal his team needed in a 2-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. It was Jensens third goal in four games, and also just the third of his NHL career. The Danish rookie has only played seven games this season since being promoted from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League because of injuries to forwards Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. "Its huge," said Jensen of his high-scoring ways. "Its tough to know what to expect when you get up here. The way weve been playing, its been really well. "So Im happy with it. We just need to keep it going and play this way." Jensen and Alex Edler scored one minute 13 seconds apart in the third period to break open a scoreless affair. The Canucks (32-30-10) posted their fourth win in seven games, but remained in 10th place while pulling within three points of eighth-place Phoenix. The win was timely because the Canucks remained a point up on the Winnipeg Jets, who beat Colorado earlier Wednesday night. Nashville (29-31-10) is in 12th place, dropping five points behind the Jets. Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack made 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season -- tops among NHL rookies -- as the Predators enjoyed a 30-22 edge in shots. "Im the first one to say I havent got to my best games so far and it feels good coming out with a shutout tonight for sure," said Lack, who has inherited the No. 1 role following Roberto Luongos trade to Florida. Jensen finally opened the scoring as he picked up a loose puck while Nashville defenceman Seth Jones was checking Henrik Sedin, and then roofed a shot over Nashville goaltender Carter Huttons outstretched glove. "Henrik got the puck," said Jensen. "It was kind of scrambling and bobbling on his stick and he somehow he found a way to slide it over to me, and I just tried to release it and put it on net. "The guy (Henrik Sedin) can do a lot of things a lot of guys cant do. Thats also why hes so unique and one of the best players in the world. "When I came up here and heard that I could play with him, I knew I was gonna be ready." The 21-year-old Jensen, Vancouvers top draft choice in 2011 (29th overall), is proving himself at the NHL level in his first full season in North America. He was returned to the Ontario Hockey Leagues Oshawa Generals after he was drafted, and then split last season between a Swedish team and Vancouvers former Chicago Wolves AHL affiliate. Along he way, he has battled injuries and inconsistency. But he is proving himself to be a quick offensive study, with only nine NHL career games under his skates, after dressing for two last season. He is also impressing Canucks coach John Tortorella with his two-way play. "For a young guy, his positioning with the puck and without the puck, its really good," said Tortorella. The demanding Canucks coach said Jensen has thrived after starting slowly after his promotion. "I heard him say something wheere he really struggled early on, which he did, and then he just started getting some puck luck after that, and it just relaxed him," said Tortorella. Tom Glavine Jersey. "He doesnt think about it. He just plays." Edler gave the Canucks a 2-0 lead on a power play as he slid a slapshot between Huttons outstretched leg and the right post. The goal came only five seconds after Nashville defenceman Victor Bartley was penalized for interference. The puck went in while the infraction was being announced over the public address system. The Canucks were playing their first game back home after a four-game road trip. The Predators completed their third straight series of back-to-back games within nine days. Accordingly, neither team could muster a goal in the first two periods. Tortorella said fatigue took a toll on his club. "I dont think we played that well in the first period. I dont think we won many battles. I thought, in the second period, we started winning some battles. a Going into the third period (it was) next goal wins." The Canucks did not get a shot on goal until 9:27 of the first period. Vancouver then enjoyed a spurt of offence, dominating with teams at full strength, but could not be Hutton. The Preds controlled play for the rest of the period, but could not beat Lack. The Canucks goaltender denied Gabriel Bourque from close range following an odd-man rush. Near the end of the period, Lack stopped Patric Hornqvist twice on one-timers that occurred within a few seconds of each other. In the second period, Hutton stopped Edler as he came out of the penalty box, took a pass and rushed down the right wing. Moments later, Hutton foiled Dan Hamhuis on a wraparound and Alex Burrows on the ensuing rebound. "I thought it was a pretty even game," said Nashville coach Barry Trotz. "Both teams had some looks and were just not scoring easy right now. The Preds were shut out for the ninth time this season as their playoff hopes grew slimmer. "Weve got to get some goals for our goaltender," said Trotz. Notes: The Canucks lost Burrows for a while after Jensens goal as he appeared to be slashed on the left hand by Preds captain Shea Weber as the puck went in. Burrowss glove came off on the play, but he was able to come back. Tortorella said Burrows will be evaluated Thursday. a Nashville centre Paul Gaustad was injured when Canucks defenceman Edler checked on a breakaway and proceeded to fall on him in the first period. Gaustad went to the dressing room and did not return. a Tortorella said defenceman Chris Tanev will be out three to four weeks with a broken finger suffered while blocking a shot Monday in Tampa Bay. If the Canucks miss the playoffs, he could be done for the season. No updates were given on injured centre Ryan Kesler and winger Daniel Sedin, who remain out indefinitely with undisclosed ailments. a Canucks centre Brad Richardson returned after missing seven games with an undisclosed upper-body injury. a Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis and his family donated $55,000 in conjunction with a local radio station to the teams charitable childrens foundation. ' ' '