NEWS » first time a link between football-related concussion

TORONTO -- One playoff avenue closed for the New York Yankees. Their second may soon slide shut, as well.Francisco Liriano and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, Troy Tulowitzki had four RBI and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Yankees 9-0 Friday night to maintain a one-game lead in the AL wild-card standings.New York lost for the ninth time in 12 games, following a seven-game winning streak, and was eliminated from contention in the AL East.The Yankees are four games behind Detroit for the second wild care with nine games left.Things are kind of slipping away at this point, outfielder Brett Gardner said. Were not out of it, but were definitely not in a good position.Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion got his 124th RBI, tied with Bostons David Ortiz for the AL lead, as the Blue Jays won their sixth straight home game over New York.Toronto has won five of eight after going 3-9 starting September.Gary Sanchez had two hits for the Yankees, who were shut out for the second straight night and the fifth time this month. New York has gone 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in their last two games and stranded 17 runners.Its not what you want, manager Joe Girardi said. Its frustrating.Girardis frustration was plainly evident. He cut short his postgame media session and angrily walked out of his office following a question about bullpen usage.Liriano (8-13) escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Chase Headley to end a 27-pitch first inning, then left runners at the corners after the first two batters reached in the third. That was the start of a stretch that saw the left-hander retire nine straight.Liriano allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six for his second win with Toronto.Liriano was was really, really good, manager John Gibbons said. Hes got one of the better arms in baseball.Reliever Joaquin Benoit walked Aaron Hicks to begin the seventh but pinch-hitter Brian McCann grounded into a double play. Brett Cecil worked the eighth and Danny Barnes finished.Tulowitzki opened the scoring with a two-out, bases-loaded single off Bryan Mitchell (1-2) in the first and Encarnacion made it 3-0 with a bases-loaded walk in the second.Mitchell allowed three runs -- one earned -- and six hits in six innings.Jose Bautista hit a two-run double off Blake Parker in the seventh and Tulowitzki added a second two-run single.Donaldson homered off Ben Heller in the eighth, his 36th.DECISION PENDINGGirardi said he has not decided who will start in place of RHP Masahiro Tanaka (strained forearm) in Mondays series finale. Tanaka leads the American League with a 3.07 ERA.HAL AND THE BABY BOMBERSYankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner watched some of New Yorks top prospects work out Friday at instructional league in Tampa, Florida. Steinbrenner also looked at the on-going multi-million renovation project at the Yankees minor league complex, which includes new indoor hitting and pitching cages, and clubhouse improvements.FALL LEAGUEThe updated list of Yankees set to play in the Arizona Fall League are RHPs Dillon Tate, Brody Koerner and J.P. Feyereisen, INFs Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, and OF Tyler Wade.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: 2B Starlin Castro (right hamstring) hit in the cage before the game and plans to run on the field Saturday. Manager Joe Girardi said he does not expect Castro to return during the series against Toronto.UP NEXTNew York LHP CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.19) faces RHP Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.50) Saturday. Sabathia, who will start on five days rest, is 3-8 with a 5.49 ERA in his past 17 starts. Stroman has lost his past four starts and is winless since Aug. 14.Discount Swell Black Water Bottle .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Swell Bottles Online Uk . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.swellbottlesuk.com/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Cheap Swell Water Bottles . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Free Shipping Swell Bottle . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery.Husain Abdullah says the risk of suffering further concussions is behind his decision to retire from the NFL at the age of 30.The safety was a free agent, after spending the last three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, but revealed he would not be seeking a new team because of the five concussions he suffered in his seven years in the league.Earlier this month, a top NFL health and safety official acknowledged for the first time a link between football-related concussions and the degenerative brain condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in testimony at a US congressional hearing.There are numerous deciding factors in my decision, with personal health being foremost, Abdullah wrote on Instagram.Sitting for five weeks last year after suffering the fifth concussion of my career, I hadd a lot to contemplate.ddddddddddddMy goals moving forward are to be of benefit to my family, my community, my country and hopefully the world.Having a sound mind will be vital in accomplishing these goals.I would like to thank the Minnesota Vikings for giving me an opportunity to make the team after going undrafted in 2008.The Kansas City Chiefs will forever have a special place in my heart. After sitting out of football to fulfil my Hajj Pilgrimage in 2012, the Chiefs were the first to call. The three years I spent playing for KC may have been the most enjoyable football experience in my entire life. Thank you.Also See:NFL VideoRookies guideNFL on Sky SportsPundits ' ' '