Yankees earn crucial victory over Chen, O's

NEW YORK — When the calendar turned to September, the first-place New York Yankees suddenly played a little more like, well, the first-place Yankees.

Too close for comfort: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter attempts to avoid being hit by a pitch against the Orioles on Saturday in New York. The Yankees won 4-3. AP

Derek Jeter worked out a tying walk, then sure-handed shortstop J.J. Hardy's bases-loaded error let the Yankees complete a seventh-inning comeback Saturday for a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-2 with a walk in the win.

The struggling Yankees scored three times in the seventh and restored their three-game lead in the AL East over Baltimore. The streaking Orioles had won 13 straight one-run decisions.

"You don't look at the standings," Jeter said. "If we play well, we'll be fine."

As to whether his team's past history of playing important games was any factor, the Yankees' captain demurred.

"If you win, they say experience helps," Jeter said. "If you lose, they say you don't have enough youth."

The Yankees won for only the fourth time in 11 games, but lost another power bat when Curtis Granderson left after two innings because of tightness in his right hamstring. He was taken to the hospital for a precautionary MRI, which showed nothing major.

Manager Joe Girardi doesn't think Granderson will be sidelined along with injured sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. He will check with his center fielder Sunday before making out his lineup.

Shut down all afternoon, the Yankees took advantage of what Baltimore gave them. Neither team did a lot with the bats — each side got just four hits.

Baltimore starting pitcher Chen Wei-yin mixed speeds right away, showing Swisher a 109-kph curve in the first inning and following with a 148-kph fastball.

Chen was charged with the loss after allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits over 6? innings.

Angels 5, Mariners 2

In Seattle, Mark Trumbo hit a two-run single in the eighth inning that helped hand Felix Hernandez his first loss in nearly three months.

Rays 5, Blue Jays 4

In Toronto, Matt Joyce homered and had three RBIs and Ryan Roberts also connected.

Twins 3, Royals 1 (1st)

Twins 8, Royals 7 (2nd)

In Kansas City, Joe Mauer hit a grand slam and Chris Parmelee added a three-run shot, and Minnesota outlasted the Royals to complete a sweep of a doubleheader.

Justin Morneau drove in two runs and Twins rookie Cole De Vries beat the Royals 3-1 in the first game.

Mauer's grand slam in the second inning of the nightcap was the third of his career and the first by the Twins this year. Mauer's ninth home run came after Pedro Florimon's double was sandwiched around walks to Drew Butera and Ben Revere.

Tigers 5, White Sox 1

In Detroit, Max Scherzer allowed four hits in eight scoreless innings, and the Tigers pulled within a game of first place with a victory over the White Sox.

Indians 4, Rangers 3

In Cleveland, Jeanmar Gomez and three Indians relievers combined to beat the Rangers.

Athletics 7, Red Sox 1

In Oakland, Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run and finished a triple shy of the cycle to back A.J. Griffin's gem, and the A's beat Boston for their season-high eighth straight win.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 10, Nationals 9

In Washington, David Freese homered, drove in three runs and had a go-ahead single in the ninth.

Giants 5, Cubs 2

In Chicago, Tim Lincecum pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Xavier Nady had a three-run double.

Phillies 5, Braves 1

In Atlanta, Cliff Lee took advantage of some rare run support, throwing seven scoreless innings to lead the Phillies past the slumping Braves.

Brewers 3, Pirates 2

In Milwaukee, Corey Hart homered to lead off the ninth inning.

Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki entered the game as a pinch hitter and was 1-for-1.

Mets 5, Marlins 3

In Miami, Kelly Shoppach hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning that cleared the bases when center fielder Justin Ruggiano misplayed the ball, lifting the Mets to a victory over the Marlins.

Astros 2, Reds 1

In Houston, Cincinnati second baseman Wilson Valdez's error on a routine grounder by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Astros to a win over the Reds.

Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 1

In Los Angeles, Josh Beckett pitched 6? strong innings for his first victory since being traded to the Dodgers, and Andre Ethier hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning.

Rockies 9, Padres 1

In Denver, Jhoulys Chacin pitched seven strong innings, and Dexter Fowler hit his first career grand slam.

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