NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter Jason Giambi connected for a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, rallying the New York Yankees to a 9-8 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
Giambi’s drive off closer B.J. Ryan into the right-field upper deck — just inside the foul pole — capped New York’s biggest comeback win this season. In erasing a 7-2 deficit, the Yankees overcame another poor outing by Chien-Ming Wang and a key error by center fielder Melky Cabrera.
Brought on to protect an 8-6 lead, Ryan (1-2) got two outs in the ninth. But Alex Rodriguez singled, moved to second on defensive indifference and scored on Hideki Matsui’s single.
Giambi, who didn’t start because of a sore left foot, batted for Jose Molina and pulled an 0-2 pitch down the right-field line for his second pinch-hit homer and fourth game-ending shot.
Kyle Farnsworth (1-2) earned the win despite allowing a run in the top of the ninth. New York handed Toronto its eighth loss in 23 games and took two of three in the series.
Matt Stairs homered and drove in five runs for the Blue Jays, but Ryan blew his second consecutive save chance after going 12-for-12 to start the season.
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada went 1-for-3 in his first start since coming off the DL.
Red Sox 7, Rays 1
BOSTON — Manny Ramirez homered, drove in five runs and got into a shouting match with a teammate as Boston beat Tampa Bay 7-1 Thursday night in a game that included a bench-clearing brawl between the Red Sox and Rays.
TV cameras showed Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis being separated after exchanging words.
The Red Sox posted their 13th straight home win, matching the majors’ longest streak in nearly two years, and completed their second three-game sweep of the Rays.
Jon Lester (4-3), making his first Fenway start since his no-hitter against Kansas City May 19, gave up one run and eight hits, struck out five, hit two batters and didn’t walk anyone in 6 1-3 innings. Mike Timlin worked 1 2-3 hitless innings and David Aardsma got three outs.
Ramirez’s three-run homer — the 503rd home run of his career — gave Boston a 3-0 lead in the first. Dustin Pedroia was hit on the left elbow by Shields (4-4) and J.D. Drew doubled before Ramirez’s drive cleared the seats above the Green Monster.
Rangers 9, Indians 4
ARLINGTON, Texas — Michael Young homered and extended his hitting streak to 21 games, and Kevin Millwood shook after a bad first inning to pitch into the seventh for Texas.
The Indians roughed up Texas pitching for 35 runs and 48 hits in the first three games of the series, then scored four more in the first.
Millwood (4-3) settled in after that, retiring 15 in a row.
Eddie Guardado relieved Millwood after a leadoff single by Jamey Carroll in the seventh.
It was another tough outing for Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia (3-8). He yielded five runs and nine hits while striking out eight over six innings. The 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner has lost three straight decisions and is winless since May 14.
White Sox 6, Royals 2
CHICAGO — Jose Contreras won his fourth straight decision and Jim Thome homered as the resurgent White Sox beat the Royals to complete a three-game sweep.
The sloppy Royals (23-37) lost their 11th straight road game, one shy of the franchise record, and have dropped 15 of 17 overall.
Contreras (6-3) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings. He hasn’t lost since May 4.
Gil Meche (3-8) dropped his third consecutive decision. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Orioles 3, Twins 2
MINNEAPOLIS — Adam Jones hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and Baltimore beat Minnesota. Jones opened the inning with a drive into the left-field seats against reliever Brian Bass (2-2).
Nick Markakis gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the third with 10th homer, a two-run shot.
Garrett Olson (5-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs and eight hits. George Sherrill pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 attempts, working around Nick Punto’s one-out double.
Twins starter Scott Baker came off the disabled list and threw 99 pitches in five innings. He gave up two runs and five hits.
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