Yankees go long to beat Tribe

AL ROUNDUP

The New York Yankees hit four home runs to tie a season high, with Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit connecting in a 6-3 victory over the visiting Cleveland Indians.

Mike Mussina (5-3) won his fourth consecutive start and earned his 255th career victory, holding on for five innings. Joba Chamberlain pitched an easy eighth, and Mariano Rivera closed for his ninth save.

The Indians were trying to sweep the Yankees in a series of three or more games for the first time in nearly two decades. The last time the Indians did, they completed by beating Tommy John on April 9, 1989.

Giambi, Cano and Betemit each began the day hitting well under .180. Damon has done better from the leadoff spot, and he homered for the Yankees' first run in the fourth inning and hit a go-ahead double in the fifth.

Mussina moved into sole possession of 39th place on the career wins list, breaking a tie with Jack Morris and Red Faber.

Josh Beckett had eight strikeouts, including the 1,000th of his career, and Kevin Youkilis hit another home run at spacious Comerica Park to lead the visiting Boston Red Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Beckett (4-2) gave up six hits and a run in seven innings, and Youkilis hit his third home run in two games, giving him eight in Detroit. He hasn't hit more than two outside Fenway Park.

Dioner Navarro hit a grand slam in the 13th inning after Carl Crawford drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 in 13 innings.

The Blue Jays trailed 3-0 after eight but rallied in the ninth against closer Troy Percival. Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer and Aaron Hill an RBI single.

Daniel Cabrera (3-1) threw a three-hitter and struck out seven, Nick Markakis backed him with a three-run homer and the visiting Baltimore Orioles snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals.

The Seattle Mariners' scoreless streak reached 22 innings as the visiting Texas Rangers shut them out for the second consecutive game in a 5-0 victory. The Mariners' Richie Sexson was ejected for charging the mound.

Sun-Times wires