Yankees avoid Baltimore sweep

Desperate to escape last place and avert a three-game sweep, the New York Yankees called upon Andy Pettitte to work his usual magic against the Baltimore Orioles.

Reaching deep into his bag of tricks, Pettitte combined efficient pitching with his masterful pickoff move to carry the visiting Yankees to a 4-2 victory Wednesday night.

Jason Giambi, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera served as capable helpers to Pettitte (5-5), who gave up 2 runs and 8 hits in 6¿ innings to improve to 24-6 lifetime against the Orioles. The left-hander is 15-4 in Baltimore, by far the winningest visiting pitcher in Camden Yards history.

"I have had a lot of opportunities to pitch against these guys and I have always been able to handle them for some reason. I've had a lot of horrible games here, too," Pettitte insisted, although the Orioles would be pressed to remember them.

"You've got to tip your cap to Pettitte. He's pitched awfully well against us, it seems like forever," manager Dave Trembley said.

Johnny Damon had 3 hits for the Yankees after getting 4 in a 10-9 loss Tuesday night. Damon beat out a bases-loaded grounder to first base in the ninth when Jamie Walker was late covering the bag, an RBI single that gave New York a 4-2 lead.

Melvin Mora had 3 hits, including a 2-run homer, and Brian Roberts also had 3 hits for Baltimore. But the rest of the lineup went 3-for-27.

Rays 5, Rangers 3: Matt Garza pitched a career-high 8 innings, leading first-place Tampa Bay over visiting Texas.

Despite being off to the best start in franchise history and are tied with the Cubs for the best record in major leagues, Tampa Bay drew only an announced 10,927.

Garza (4-1) allowed 2 runs and 4 hits for the AL East leaders, who won two of three from the Rangers to hand Texas its first series loss in over a month.

Twins 9, Royals 8: Justin Morneau hit a leadoff homer in the 10th inning, and visiting Minnesota -- after rallying for 5 runs in the ninth -- beat Kansas City to hand the reeling Royals their 10th straight loss.

Joel Peralta (0-2) gave up the tying 3-run homer to pinch hitter Craig Monroe with two outs in the ninth, then watched Morneau hit his first pitch of the 10th over the fence in right field.