Joba Chamberlain and the New York Yankees picked up a big win against the Boston Red Sox and then got some help for the pennant race.
Cleveland Indians ace Cliff Lee also had a nice day at work.
Chamberlain took another big step in his transition from the bullpen to the rotation with his best major league start as surging New York beat Boston 1-0 Friday night for its seventh straight win.
The third-place Yankees pulled within two of Boston and stayed three back of AL East-leading Tampa Bay, which won 5-3 at Kansas City. New York also bolstered its lineup and bullpen, acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Two people familiar with the deal confirmed the trade on condition of anonymity because physicals were still pending.
“It’s definitely a positive day for us,” Johnny Damon said.
Lee became baseball’s first 14-game winner and avenged one of his two losses this season, leading Cleveland to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Lee (14-2), who at this time one year ago was packing his bags for the minor leagues, stayed on pace to become Cleveland’s first 20-game winner in 34 years.
“I don’t put a number on my goals,” he said. “I don’t care if I get the win or anything else as long as the Indians get the win.”
In other AL games, it was: Chicago 6, Detroit 5; Tampa Bay 5, Kansas City 3; Los Angeles 6, Baltimore 5; Texas 14, Oakland 6; and Toronto 5, Seattle 4 in 10 innings.
Chamberlain (3-3) allowed three singles and struck out nine in a career-high seven innings, outpitching Boston ace Josh Beckett (9-7).
“I’ve had quality starts against everybody,” Chamberlain said. “You understand it’s going to be a tough game. He (Beckett) is an unbelievable pitcher. He battles and claws.”
So does Chamberlain.
“I was the second-best pitcher today,” Beckett said, “and ultimately that gets you a loss most of the time.”
Mariano Rivera shut down a threat in the eighth and finished for his 26th save, helping the Yankees remain undefeated since the All-Star break. Jason Giambi drove in the only run of the game with an infield single in the third inning.
David Ortiz was activated off the disabled list after missing 45 games for the Red Sox with a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his left wrist. He went 1-for-4 at Fenway Park.
Lee allowed two runs and six hits over eight innings in Cleveland, and Rafael Perez got three outs for his second career save.
The Twins lost their fifth straight as well as center fielder Carlos Gomez, who left the game with a back injury and spent a few hours in the hospital before being released. Livan Hernandez (10-7) got the loss.
White Sox 6, Tigers 5
Jermaine Dye hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift visiting Chicago.
The White Sox entered 0-38 when trailing after eight innings but rallied in the ninth after Carlos Guillen put Detroit ahead with a tiebreaking homer in the seventh.
D.J. Carrasco (1-0) got the win and Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances.
Todd Jones (4-1) was an out away from ending the game before blowing his third save in 22 chances.
Rays 5, Royals 3
Edwin Jackson surpassed his victory total for last season and Tampa Bay snapped a seven-game road losing streak.
Jackson (6-7), who was 5-15 last season, did not yield a hit until Billy Butler homered to center with two outs in the fifth. John Buck led off the sixth with a homer, the only other hit Jackson allowed.
Troy Percival worked the ninth for his 21st save, but gave up a homer to Ross Gload.
Angels 6, Orioles 5
Juan Rivera and Casey Kotchman homered to help Los Angeles’ Joe Saunders earn his 13th victory.
Back after missing two games on bereavement leave, Torii Hunter had two RBIs for the visiting Angels, who led 5-0 after two innings and held on for their eighth win in nine games.
Francisco Rodriguez gave up Kevin Millar’s second homer of the game and a double to Brandon Fahey in the ninth, but retired Luke Scott on a grounder for his 43rd save, most in the majors.
Saunders (13-5) allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.
Brian Burres (7-7) allowed five runs and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings for the Orioles.
Rangers 14, Athletics 6
At Oakland, Calif., Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer to reach 100 RBIs for the season and the Rangers overcame a five-run deficit.
Chris Davis added three hits and a home run for Texas, which won for the fifth time in seven games. Vicente Padilla (12-5) went six innings for his second win in as many starts since coming off the disabled list.
A’s reliever Brad Ziegler pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings to match Philadelphia Phillies right-hander George McQuillan’s 101-year-old major league record with 25 scoreless innings at the start of a career.
Blue Jays 5, Mariners 4, 10 innings
Joe Inglett’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the 10th gave Toronto the win and handed visiting Seattle its sixth consecutive loss.
Seattle went ahead 4-3 in the top of the 10th on Jeremy Reed’s RBI single.
Gregg Zaun led off the Toronto 10th against Mark Lowe (1-4) with a single to center. After two outs, Brad Wilkerson walked to load the bases before Inglett lined a shot over the head of right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
Jesse Carlson (3-1) got the win.
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