ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Mariano Rivera saved two games in one day for the fifth time in his major league career, and the New York Yankees beat the Texas 4-3 and 5-2 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of the Rangers.
Hideki Matsui followed Jerry Hairston’s tying homer off Luis Vizcaino (2-1) with a go-ahead double Joaquin Benoit (0-1) in eighth inning of the opener.
In the second game, Mike Mussina (1-1) allowed one run and four hits in five innings in his first appearance since straining a hamstring on April 11. Robinson Tejeda (3-2) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, falling behind for good when Doug Mientkiewicz hit a two-run homer in the second.
Rivera saved two games in one day for the first time since Sept. 29, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and has three saves in five chances this season.
New York (12-14) moved ahead of Baltimore and out of last in the AL East. Texas (10-18) has lost five straight and is last in the AL West, 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Angels.
The Rangers’ Sammy Sosa was hit on the helmet by a Brian Bruney pitch in the sixth inning of the second game and came out. Texas said he appeared to be OK.
Red Sox 8, Mariners 7
BOSTON (AP) – Manny Ramirez homered twice, including a tiebreaking drive in the eighth off Chris Reitsma (0-1).
Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled with his control, and trailed 5-0 after the first inning. Boston came back to take a 7-5 lead then allowed Seattle to retie the game before Ramirez hit his 475th homer. Ramirez also hit a two-run homer in the fourth that gave Boston a 7-5 lead.
Brendan Donnelly (1-1) got the win two days after his first loss in 10 decisions since Aug. 12, 2005. J.C. Romero got three outs for his first save.
Royals 5, Angels 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Gil Meche (3-1) allowed two hits in seven innings, retiring 17 straight batters after Vladimir Guerrero’s two-run homer in the first.
Brandon Duckworth and rookie Joakim Soria finished the three-hitter, with Soria pitching the ninth for his fifth save in five chances. The victory gave Kansas City a split of the four-game series.
Jered Weaver (1-3) matched his career high with nine strikeouts but gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.
Indians 6, Blue Jays 5
CLEVELAND (AP) – Grady Sizemore hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth, and Cleveland rallied from a 4-0 deficit to complete a three-game sweep.
Victor Martinez had four hits for Cleveland, which trailed 4-0 in the third inning of Cliff Lee’s first start of the season but came back for its 10th win in 11 games following a 7-7 start.
Mike Rouse singled with two outs in the eighth against Jason Frasor (1-1). Josh Barfield singled Rouse to third and Sizemore hit a 3-2 pitch to right-center, with the ball bouncing into the stands. Aaron Fultz (3-0) pitched the eighth, and Joe Borowski finished for his 10th save.
Devil Rays 6, Twins 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – James Shields (3-0) gave up three runs and nine hits over 7 1-3 innings and Rocco Baldelli had a two-run homer.
Shields worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth by striking out Joe Mauer and getting Justin Morneau to hit into a double play.
Baldelli homered off Ramon Ortiz (3-2) during a four-run third that put the Devil Rays ahead 4-1.
Al Reyes pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
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