Yankees Recover and Beat Rangers

The New York Yankees kept their cool after Mariano Rivera blew a save for the first time in more than four months. They simply turned to another player they’ve always relied on in the clutch.

Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, and the Yankees overcame Rivera’s first blown save since the third game of the season to beat the Texas Rangers, 7-5, Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees (63-52) won their third in a row and moved 11 games over .500 for the first time this season.

Kevin Mench hit a two-run homer against Mike Mussina in the eighth and a tying, two-run single in the ninth for the Rangers.

Tino Martinez led off the 11th with a single against Kameron Loe (5-4). Williams hit the next pitch over the wall in right-center.

Rivera squandered a save opportunity for the first time since blowing his first two chances of the season against Boston on April 5 and 6. He had converted a career-best 31 in a row.

Oakland 5, Minnesota 2 -- Jay Payton hit a three-run homer to lead the Athletics over the Twins at Oakland for their major-league leading 23rd victory since the All-Star break.

Boston 7, Chicago 4 -- The Red Sox have won 13 consecutive home games and 14 of their last 16 overall. Tim Wakefield (12-9) took a shutout into the seventh before giving up consecutive homers to Paul Konerko and Aaron Rowand.

Tampa Bay 8, Cleveland 2 -- Jorge Cantu hit two of the Devil Rays’ season-high five homers, helping them to their first series victory in Cleveland. They had been 0-8-1 in nine previous trips to Jacobs Field.

Baltimore 1, Toronto 0 -- John Maine (1-0), recalled from triple-A Ottawa on Friday, and three relievers combined on a five-hitter at Baltimore. Dave Bush (2-6) lost despite yielding four hits -- none after the third inning.

Detroit at Kansas City -- The game was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.

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Wild-card standings

*--* Team W L Pct. GB Angels/Oak. 67 49 578 -- New York 63 52 548 3 1/2 Cleveland 63 54 538 4 1/2

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