New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez's quest for his 600th home run has been stymied for 11 games heading into tonight's contest with Toronto in The Bronx.

NEW YORK — The numbers on the specially marked balls for Alex Rodriguez's at-bats must be getting up there — perhaps, uhm, close to say 600.

The Yankees slugger's quest — and by now it is one — for membership in the exclusive 600-homer club extended into its 11th game Monday with an 0-for-5 night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I thought I swung the bat better today. I had some pretty good pitches to hit," Rodriguez said after the Yankees' 8-6 loss. "The difference between 0 for 5 and 2 for 5 is small."

A-Rod's drive to become the youngest player and seventh overall to reach the milestone began after he homered off Kansas City reliever Robinson Tejeda July 22 and has gone on for 48 plate appearances against four teams in three cities.

He's hitless in his last 14 at-bats and is 9 for 43 overall with eight RBI during the drought. The closest he has come to the homer is a couple of long fly balls that were caught in front of the warning track.

Most of the 47,034 fans remained in their seats Monday for one more chance to see him bat in the ninth, and they got it. But Rodriguez grounded to shortstop against Kevin Gregg to end the game.

"The way I'm swinging, it's probably going to take a while. Everybody get comfortable," Rodriguez said, smiling, on Sunday.

Rodriguez began the search for 600 by saying that he isn't going to feel the pressure the same way he did when he was going for No. 500 in 2007, a wait of 10 days and 28 at-bats. He even playfully checked out the marked balls that are switched in before he steps to the plate in one of his first at-bats, way back on July 23.

His manager says Rodriguez can't possibly ignore the significance of the pending homer.

"With the flashbulbs going off all the time and changing the ball, I don't know how you don't think about it," Joe Girardi said.