DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) _ Say this for these New York Yankees: They never give up, even in exhibitions.

Down 9-0 with two outs in the ninth inning, the World Series champions spiced up their first spring training game of the year by scoring seven times and bringing the tying run to the plate Thursday.

No matter that owner George Steinbrenner had already left his front-row seat when young Nick Johnson struck out to end the rally. The 9-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays caught manager Joe Torre's eye.

``You're yawning for eight innings and all of a sudden you put the other team on the edge of their seat because you're just a short fly ball from tying it up,'' Torre said.

Jose Cruz, Alberto Castillo and Andy Thompson homered for the Blue Jays. Raul Mondesi stole a base and scored a run in his first game since being traded from Los Angeles for Shawn Green.

Toronto starter Chris Carpenter, who had season-ending surgery last Sept. 16, pitched three scoreless innings and was the winner.

``Every time I go out on the mound and keep throwing, it feels better and better,'' he said. ``I was excited and had fun.''

Yankees starter Jake Westbrook was undone by the Toronto hitters, along with a little anxiety. The 22-year-old rookie, acquired in the December trade that sent Hideki Irabu to Montreal, gave up three runs in three innings and was the loser.

``I was nervous a bit,'' he said. ``Big league hitters, first spring training game for the Yankees. But it was good to be out there, seeing what I could do against their best hitters.''

Toronto trotted out a lineup similar to what it will have on opening day. Carlos Delgado hit an RBI single in the first inning and Castillo, catching while Darrin Fletcher recovers from surgery on his right knee, homered and doubled.

Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Chuck Knoblauch and Jorge Posada did not make the half-hour trip from the Yankees' complex in Tampa. Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius started and left after four innings.

``To some extent, it feels like it was yesterday when we were out the last time,'' Williams said. ``The offseason was very short. I guess we like it that way.''

The Yankees beat Atlanta last Oct. 27 to complete their second straight World Series sweep. They went 11-1 in postseason games, all along becoming more dangerous the later it got.

And they did it again against Toronto.

Chris Turner hit a two-out, two-run double off Gary Glover that broke up Toronto's shutout. Roberto Kelly, trying to earn a backup job in the outfield, had a three-run double off Matt McClellan that made it 9-7.

But Johnson, 21 and the Yankees' first baseman of the future, struck out swinging against McClelland to end the comeback.

``It was fun because the kids did it,'' Torre said. ``The kids don't know from 9-0.''

Notes: Yankees spring instructor Don Mattingly was at first base during infield drills. ... Blue Jays closer Billy Koch pitched a hitless inning. ... New York wore black arm bands in memory of former manager Bob Lemon. ... Gary Matthews, let go as Toronto's batting coach after last season, made his debut as a Blue Jays radio announcer.