win.New Yorks late rally denied Happ his 21st win. Happ allowed

TORONTO -- Josh Johnson doesnt have the answers. After another horrid start, the Toronto Blue Jays starter didnt know what he was doing wrong this season or in Saturdays 8-6 loss to the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. "Ive just got to make better pitches," he said. "I made some OK pitches, but then I made some terrible ones as well." Johnson fell to 1-7 and saw his earned-run average rise to 6.08 as he gave up seven runs on seven hits, including three home runs. It was his third straight bad start and fifth consecutive loss in as many appearances. "Hes scuffling, thats an understatement," manager John Gibbons said. "Hes feeling it. I mean, hes human. You feel for the guy. And hes never struggled a whole lot in his career. Hes trying to settle in, hes trying to contribute, and it hasnt gone well for him. Its tough. Theres really nowhere to hide out there." Johnson tried to take a "different mind-set" onto the mound Saturday afternoon after lasting just two innings Monday. His pre-game bullpen session admittedly wasnt sharp, but the right-hander insisted he didnt think, "Here we go again" after surrendering back-to-back singles to start the game. "Sometimes that happens," Johnson said. "Seems like its happened a lot more with me, but its part of the game." When Astros designated hitter Chris Carter hit a three-run home run before Johnson recorded an out, it marked the sixth straight start in which he allowed multiple runs in the first inning a base runner got on. Pitching coach Pete Walker said he and his staff were "certainly aware" of that trend. But throwing from the stretch isnt Johnsons only problem, as Gibbons pointed out that he allowed solo home runs to Justin Maxwell and Matt Dominguez from the windup. Where Johnsons issues stem from could be mechanical or mental. More likely, its a combination of both, as the 29-year-old said his confidence is "not real high" right now. "They all go through those stretches where confidence becomes an issue," Gibbons said. "Youve got to deal with it. Thats part of this business. I know hes scrambling, hes got to be scrambling trying to figure it out because youll see him: Hell pitch some hitters good and then lose it and get hit pretty hard." Johnson tried to work on keeping his throwing motion more direct, driving down his right hip instead of falling off the mound toward first base. He consciously thought about it for all 5 2/3 innings Saturday. "Id do it for a couple pitches and then I wouldnt do it for a couple," Johnson said. "That inconsistency was still there a little bit." Consistency has been hard to find for the Blue Jays this season, and that goes beyond Johnsons struggles. They managed to put six runs on the board Saturday, finally getting to Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, but it wasnt enough. Keuchel, who lasted until Jose Bautistas three-run homer in the eighth, said the Blue Jays had as good a lineup as he has seen in the major leagues. Toronto showed it by out-hitting Houston, but the hole Johnson dug was too deep to get out of. "I think he just wants to compete, and he just wants to get some consistency in his game right now," Walker said. "The frustration is that he doesnt feel like hes giving this team a chance to win a game." As Johnson failed to do that for the fourth time in five starts, its time for more re-evaluation. Walker said its "back to the drawing board a little bit with him." From his vantage point, Johnson saw some positives. He finished with eight strikeouts and was able to last into the sixth inning to keep a tired bullpen fresh. But the negatives certainly outweighed the positives. "I just think they put some good swings on him," Gibbons said. "The balls not where hes trying to locate it, and then hes maybe up in the zone a little bit and they hit him." Johnson said he "threw some pretty good pitches." Because he didnt throw enough, he was left to lament another loss, but the coming days will mean more work to right his game. "Its a battle right now," Walker said. "And I know hes frustrated with the consistency, but were certainly not giving up on him by any stretch. I still think hes got plenty of stuff to get major-league hitters out. I think you saw it with the strikeouts today: At times hes very good. Hes going to continue to work at it, and I still believe in my heart that hes going to have some good games here." NOTES -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left the game with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle. He said he felt some tightness going from first to third, and manager Bo Porter indicated his removal was for precautionary reasons. ... 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At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays hope they dont pay a high price for playing hardball with the New York Yankees.Mark Teixeira hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, adding an uncharacteristic bat flip, and Aaron Hicks added a game-winning blast as the Yankees avoided a four-game sweep, beating the Blue Jays 7-5 on Monday night in a testy game that featured two benches-clearing incidents.Toronto still leads the AL wild card race, one game ahead of Baltimore. The Orioles were off Monday.Blue Jays relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit limped off with a sore left calf after the second melee, and infielder Devon Travis was replaced in the sixth because of a sore shoulder.In the pile (Benoit) did something to his calf, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. Hes getting checked out.Gibbons didnt know whether Travis was hurt while taking part in a shoving match.Ive got no idea, Gibbons said. He came out of the game having trouble swinging the bat.With Toronto up 3-2 heading to the ninth, Gibbons called on Jason Grilli (7-6) to close it out because Roberto Osuna was unavailable after pitching the previous two days.Teixeira tied it 3-all with a one-out homer. After pausing to admire his second-deck drive and casually flipping his bat, Teixeira yelled Blown save! at Grilli after returning to the dugout.Our team has been fighting all year, Teixeira said. Were probably not going to make the playoffs. Were just going to enjoy ourselves the rest of the year and keep fighting.Didi Gregorius singled and Hicks followed with a two-run homer.New York scored five runs in a bat-around ninth, matching their total from the 35 previous innings in the series.Four New York players and coaches were ejected following two scuffles in the first two innings.New York starter Luis Severino was ejected in the second after hitting Justin Smoak, sparking the second melee.That came after Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ threw consecutive inside pitches to Headley in the top of the inning, hitting him with the second. That led to a warning from plate umpire Todd Tichenor.If they feel like they need to protect their guys, I respect that, Headley said. But if you do that, youre accepting the consequences.Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected for arguing the warning. New York pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Rob Thomson were ejected along with Severino followinng the second melee.ddddddddddddI was mad because Happ hit him on purpose and he had one shot, Girardi said. You throw it behind the guy and you miss, I mean, hes got to be tossed. Thats terrible, its terrible.Josh Donaldson, hit on the elbow by a pitch from Severino in the bottom of the first, walked in from his position and exchanged words with the New York dugout after Headley was hit.Some teams have been taking pot shots at us all year long and some guys just got tired of it, Gibbons said.Both benches and bullpens cleared that time, too, but no punches were thrown.I wasnt trying to hit Chase but it happened, Happ said. They can say whatever they want. Eventually cooler heads prevailed.After Dellin Betances loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Tommy Layne, the eighth Yankees pitcher of the game, came on and got Josh Donaldson to fly out. Edwin Encarnacion walked to drive in a run and pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro delivered a bloop single, making it 7-5. Layne forced Darwin Barney out at home plate on Russell Martins grounder, then wrapped up his first save by getting Troy Tulowitzki to foul out.Adam Warren (7-4) worked two innings for the win.New Yorks late rally denied Happ his 21st win. Happ allowed two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.POWER OUTAGEToronto has lost 14 straight games in which it has not hit a home run.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: After sitting out the past seven games with a sore right hamstring, 2B Starlin Castro pinch hit for Ronald Torreyes in the eighth. Donovan Solano replaced Castro in the field. ... RHP Masahira Tanaka will be examined by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad when the Yankees return home Monday. Tanaka has not thrown in the past five days.UP NEXTYankees: LHP Luis Cessa (4-3, 4.30) starts against Red Sox LHP David Price (17-8, 3.91) as New York begins its final homestand of the season. Cessa has lost his past three starts and is winless since Aug. 26.Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (13-2, 3.12) starts Tuesday as Toronto opens a pivotal three-game series against wild card rival Baltimore. RHP Kevin Gausman (8-11, 3.57) starts for the Orioles. Sanchez has not received a decision in any of his past three starts, with the Blue Jays losing all three. ' ' '