Jeter Leads Yankee Victory

Derek Jeter stepped to the plate with the New York Yankees trailing in the eighth inning, having just watched Johnny Damon strike out on three pitches.

Jeter showed New York’s latest star addition how things get done in the Bronx. His three-run homer soared into the left-field seats to cap a five-run rally, and New York beat the Kansas City Royals, 9-7, Tuesday to win its club-record ninth straight home opener.

“He always had a flair for the dramatic,” teammate Bernie Williams said.

Chien Ming-Wang wasted a 4-1 lead before the stirring comeback cheered up what had been a disappointed sellout crowd of 54,698.

Kansas City hasn’t won at Yankee Stadium since August 2002. Jason Giambi hit an early three-run homer to help extend the Royals’ losing streak in the Bronx to 12.

Boston 5, Toronto 3 -- Mike Lowell went four for four with three doubles and Josh Beckett settled down after walking in a run at Boston.

Beckett walked four and struck out two, getting a cushion when Lowell, Adam Stern and Kevin Youkilis all doubled in the four-run second. David Ortiz homered in the seventh, his second of the year.

Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon left after three innings because of a strained left groin.

Cleveland 9, Seattle 5 -- Jhonny Peralta and Travis Hafner hit consecutive homers in the fifth inning to back Cliff Lee at Cleveland.

At 6-1, the Indians are off to their best start since opening 11-1 in 2002. It’s also the first time they’ve been in first place in the AL Central since April 18, 2002.

Minnesota 7, Oakland 6 -- Tony Batista led the Twin offense with a three-run homer at Minneapolis.

Eric Chavez hit a two-run shot, his second homer of the game and fifth of the year, in the eighth against Jesse Crain to pull Oakland within one.

Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his first save. Brad Radke (2-0) started his team-record ninth home opener.

Baltimore 8, Tampa Bay 4 -- Kris Benson took a four-hitter into the eighth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla., for his first win with the Orioles.

David Newhan, Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts had two RBIs each for Baltimore.