Yankees Back in First After a Long Journey

After 3 1/2 months of struggles, the New York Yankees moved back into first place.

Kevin Brown struggled in his return to the rotation, but Jorge Posada, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui homered and Ruben Sierra hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning in an 11-10 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Arlington, Texas.

New York, which won for the 11th time in 13 games, improved to a season-high nine games over .500 at 50-41 and leads the American League East by a half a game over Boston and Baltimore (both 50-42). The Yankees, whose 11-19 start was their worst since 1966, were nine games back after play on May 7.

The Yankees, who have won seven straight division titles, had not been alone in first since beating the Red Sox in the April 3 season opener and had not held a share since after games of April 9, when they were tied with Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Brown, sidelined by a back injury since June 18, gave up three runs in the first inning.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 24th straight save conversion, the longest streak of his career within a single season.

*

Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1 -- Scott Kazmir overcame control problems and gave up three hits over six innings at Boston and the Devil Rays handed the Red Sox their sixth loss in seven games.

Kazmir (4-7) walked six to bring his AL-leading total to 62 and struck out seven.

Johnny Damon lined out for the game’s last out to end his hitting streak at 29 games.

*

Baltimore 3, Minnesota 2 -- Sammy Sosa homered to move past Mark McGwire on the career list, Rafael Palmeiro had three hits to tie Al Kaline and Miguel Tejada homered in the 11th inning to lift the Orioles at Minneapolis.

Sosa’s two-run homer in the seventh off Carlos Silva was his 584th, moving him into sole possession of sixth place, two behind Frank Robinson.

Palmeiro went three for five to tie Kaline for 24th place at 3,007.

*

Chicago 7, Detroit 5 -- Joe Crede’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run seventh inning at Chicago as the White Sox won their fifth straight after losing three in a row heading into the All-Star break. Luis Vizcaino (4-3) got the win, pitching two perfect innings of relief. Cliff Politte gave up Ivan Rodriguez’s eighth homer in the ninth but still earned his first save of the season.

*

Cleveland 6, Kansas City 2 -- Cliff Lee was credited with his first career complete game, Ben Broussard homered at Cleveland and the Indians ended their a five-game losing streak with a rain-shortened win. The game was called with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after two rain delays.