MLB

Red-hot Yankees steal one from Blue Jays in extra innings

TORONTO — If luck is the residue of design, the Yankees are world-class architects.

Working with four stars on the disabled list, this plucky group has thrived instead of simply surviving without Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson.

Saturday, luck danced into Rogers Centre wearing road grays to erase what would have been a heartbreaking loss.

Thanks to Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Loup’s costly throwing error, the Yankees escaped with a 5-3 victory in 11 innings that was witnessed by a sold-out gathering of 46,095 that appreciated the lid being closed because it was near freezing outdoors.

“Not everything is going to be smooth,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following his club’s ninth win in 11 games.

For seven-plus frames, it was very smooth for the Yankees. Hiroki Kuroda blanked the Blue Jays through seven, Vernon Wells homered and Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie turned Kevin Youkilis’ line drive into a two-run single in the fifth to hike the Yankees’ lead to 3-0.

After Kuroda gave up a one-out single to Colby Rasmus in the eighth, Girardi called for David Robertson. The right-hander walked pinch-hitter Adam Lind with two outs, gave up a single to Rajai Davis on a 0-2 pitch and watched Melky Cabrera whistle a two-run single up the middle on a 2-2 pitch after being ahead 1-2.

Suddenly, Kuroda’s win was flushed and the Yankees were in danger of being slapped with a very tough loss.

“I was annoyed because I try to get ahead of every hitter,” said Robertson, who was saddled with a blown save. “These guys can do damage. Thank goodness we came back to win.”

Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan and Shawn Kelley held the Blue Jays scoreless in the ninth and 10th innings.

Consecutive singles by Wells and Francisco Cervelli off Loup starting the 11th gave the Yankees a strong scoring threat. With the sacrifice sign on, Ichiro Suzuki got the bunt down toward third. Loup went after it — but so did Lawrie. Wanting to get Wells at third, Loup opted to throw the ball to Lawrie retreating to the bag, and the ball ended up down the left-field line as Wells and Cervelli scored.

“That was a tough play — we are just trying to get in position for a sacrifice fly,” Girardi said. “He is trying to throw to Lawrie when he was on the run.”

Eduardo Nunez (0-for-4) moved Ichiro to third with a bunt, but he was stranded there.

Armed with a two-run lead, Mariano Rivera surfaced and gave up a leadoff double to Jose Bautista. However, Edwin Encarnacion’s line drive to right found Ichiro’s leather and Rivera posted his fifth save in five chances by striking out J.P. Arencibia and Lawrie.

Kuroda watched a seemingly sure victory vanish when Robertson flushed the three-run lead.

“We are both pitchers, and once in a while we get hit,’’ said Kuroda, who allowed a run and three hits in 7 ¹/₃ innings. “Today was a bad day, but he is an important piece. It’s not a big deal.’’

Grateful for the gift in the 11th, Robertson was nonetheless disappointed about costing Kuroda a win.

“I wasn’t able to pick him up, it’s tough,” Robertson said. “I gave him a no-decision.”

And then the Blue Jays gave the Yankees something more important: a victory.

george.king@nypost.com