(Sports Network) - Two American League East foes currently headed in opposite directions continue a three-game set tonight at Toronto's Rogers Centre, where the surging Blue Jays shoot for a second consecutive win over the reeling New York Yankees.

New York's fading playoff hopes took another hit in Monday's series opener, when Toronto rallied for a pair of late runs to edge the Bronx Bombers by a 2-1 count. The loss, the Yankees' seventh in their last 10 contests, moved them 6 1/2 games behind the rival Boston Red Sox for the lead in the AL Wild Card standings.

In contrast, the Blue Jays have won three in a row and six of their last seven, and now trail New York by just one game in the battle for third place in the division.

Marco Scutaro snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a long fly ball that was misplayed by Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon. The play was ruled a double and brought home Joe Inglett, who had singled off reliever Jose Veras (3-2) earlier in the frame.

New York had another costly gaffe in the top of the ninth, as Alex Rodriguez singled to begin the inning but was thrown out by Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay while trying to stretch the hit into a double. Toronto closer B.J. Ryan then retired the next two hitters to record his 24th save of the season.

Scutaro's hit made a winner out of A.J. Burnett (16-9) after the Blue Jays starter limited the Yanks to one run on five hits over eight outstanding innings. The hard-throwing right-hander racked up a season-best 13 strikeouts in winning his sixth straight start.

New York starter Darrell Rasner also pitched well, allowing just one run and three hits in 6 2/3 frames despite getting a no-decision.

The Yankees would love to get a similar line out of Andy Pettitte tonight. The veteran lefty hasn't pitched particularly well as of late, having gone winless (0-2) in four starts since defeating Boston at Fenway Park on July 26.

Pettitte did deliver a solid seven innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Friday, a game in which he gave up three runs on six hits and struck out seven. He's also performed well on the road this season, bringing a 7-4 record with a 3.87 earned run average into this evening's test.

The 36-year-old is 16-10 with a 4.16 ERA lifetime against Toronto, but was hung with a loss by the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre last month. Pettitte was reached for four runs over six innings that day.

Coming off the best outing of his brief major league career, rookie David Purcey takes the mound for Toronto for his first-ever appearance against the Yankees.

Purcey notched his second win in the bigs with six shutout innings at Detroit on August 13, with the young left-hander yielding just two hits and three walks. Prior to that start, the 2004 first-round draft choice struck out eight batters over six frames in a home loss to Cleveland on August 8.

In six starts with the Blue Jays this season, Purcey has amassed a 2-3 record with a 5.93 ERA over 30 1/3 total innings.

These divisional foes have split 10 meetings in this year's season series, but the Blue Jays have won three of the four matchups held in Toronto.