Yankees Are Too Tough for Rogers

Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez and their New York teammates caused another meltdown by Kenny Rogers against the Yankees, overshadowing Alfonso Soriano’s return to Yankee Stadium.

Given a four-run lead, Rogers gave up five of the Yankees’ six home runs as Sheffield’s second of the game propelled New York over the Texas Rangers, 7-6, Friday night for their 10th win in 11 games.

Derek Jeter left in the fourth inning with a tight left groin, and the Yankees said their captain probably would not play until Tuesday.

Rogers, at 8-2 off to the best start of his career, hardly resembled the pitcher with the best record in the American League. Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the third, and Enrique Wilson, Rodriguez and Sheffield hit solo shots in the fourth. When Hideki Matsui homered leading off the fifth, Manager Buck Showalter ran to the mound to take out Rogers.

Rogers is 0-7 with a 9.21 earned-run average in 11 starts against the Yankees since August 1993.

Kevin Brown (7-1), a former Ranger, wasn’t much better, falling behind, 4-0, in the third on homers by Soriano and Mark Teixeira, then failing to hold a 6-4 lead in the sixth.

Kansas City 5, Boston 2 -- Jimmy Gobble (3-3) pitched six strong innings for the Royals, retiring 15 consecutive batters during one stretch at Kansas City, Mo. The Red Sox lost for the fourth time in a row -- and sixth time in eight games -- and fell to a season-worst 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees in the East Division.

Minnesota 3, Detroit 2 -- Torii Hunter’s solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning won it for the Twins. He hit a 2-2 pitch from reliever Jamie Walker (0-2) over the wall in left-center, giving the slumping Twins their fourth win in 12 games.

Tampa Bay 8, Baltimore 7 -- Julio Lugo led off the top of the 11th inning with his fourth hit and scored on a pinch-hit single by Fred McGriff. The Devil Rays blew a five-run lead before rallying to force extra innings.

Toronto 6, Oakland 1 -- Eric Hinske hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and a two-run double in the ninth to lead the Blue Jays, who scored five runs in the final two innings to end the A’s eight-game home winning streak.

Chicago 4, Seattle 2 -- Jon Garland pitched into the eighth inning at Seattle and Frank Thomas hit a go-ahead two-run homer for the Central Division-leading White Sox. Garland (5-2) gave up two runs and four hits in recording his third consecutive victory.