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Cano powers Yankees to ninth straight win

May 22, 2009 - 7:40 AM By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi was concerned after right-hander Joba Chamberlain was struck by Adam Jones' liner in the first inning.

Hours later, Chamberlain was gliding through New York's clubhouse and the Yankees were still rolling.

Robinson Cano drove in three runs, Alfredo Aceves led a solid effort by a depleted bullpen and New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-4 on Thursday night for its ninth straight win.

Nothing seems to bother the Yankees these days.

"It feels great," said Mariano Rivera, who tossed a perfect ninth for his 57th save against Baltimore, his most against any team. "We're playing together. We're playing as a team."

Chamberlain left in the first inning with a bruised right knee after being hit by Jones' hard-hit ball. X-rays were negative, and he insisted he would make his next start.

"I'm 100 percent confident," he said. "Did some tests and it felt fine, a little stiff obviously but that's just going to be the way it is. We'll come back tomorrow and get after it."

Rivera's second save in two days and ninth in 10 opportunities this season capped an admirable effort by New York's bullpen. Aceves (3-0) followed Chamberlain with 3 1-3 scoreless innings. Jonathan Albaladejo allowed four runs and five hits over 2 1-3 innings but Jose Veras got three outs to get the ball to Rivera.

Aceves hasn't allowed a run in 9 1-3 innings over his last five appearances since May 13.

"That's a tough game because you're asking an awful lot out of your bullpen," Girardi said. "We were somewhat fortunate."

Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles, who have lost four straight and five of six. Ty Wigginton hit a two-run double in the sixth to end an 0-for-16 skid by Baltimore pinch hitters to open the season.

Adam Eaton (2-5) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 13.03 ERA in his last two starts, leaving his spot in the rotation in jeopardy.

"Eaton did not pitch well but we found a way to make a game of it," manager Dave Trembley said. "We had the tying run at the plate and from where we started it was a lot to ask of our guys but we did the best we could."

Twins 20, White Sox 1=

Joe Mauer hit a grand slam, two doubles and drove in six runs as Minnesota routed the White Sox, matching Chicago's most-lopsided loss in team history.

Michael Cuddyer, Joe Crede and Matt Tolbert also homered as visiting Minnesota ended a six-game losing streak and made the White Sox pine even more for Jake Peavy.

The White Sox and Padres had agreed to a deal to send the ace pitcher to Chicago, but he turned down the trade, choosing to remain with his longtime team.

Mauer's second career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning. Tolbert's first big league homer, a three-run shot in the seventh, made it 20-0.

Indians 8, Royals 3=

Victor Martinez drove in three runs and the Indians got past Zack Greinke by getting to the Kansas City bullpen.

Greinke's record stayed at 7-1 with his first no-decision in nine starts. He went six innings, gave up a season-high eight hits and left with a 3-2 lead. His major league-leading ERA crept up to 0.82 from 0.60.

Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and two RBIs as Cleveland beat the same opponent two times in a row for the first time this season.

Carl Pavano (4-4) went six innings for the Indians. Rafael Betancourt came in with the bases loaded and none out in the ninth and got three outs on four pitches for his first save in three chances.

Tigers 4, Rangers 3=

Miguel Cabrera hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and the Tigers won their sixth straight.

Curtis Granderson and Clete Thomas homered for Detroit. The Tigers completed their second sweep of Texas this season, and have beaten the Rangers 11 times in a row at Comerica Park.

The Rangers arrived in Detroit this week with an eight-game winning streak, but managed only seven runs in their three losses.

Edwin Jackson (4-2) won his third straight start, throwing 132 pitches in eight innings. Fernando Rodney earned his eighth straight save.

Kevin Millwood (4-4) went all eight innings, giving up six hits.

Rays 6, Athletics 5=

At St. Petersburg, Fla., pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist tied it with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and Carl Crawford gave the Rays the win with an RBI single.

Zobrist connected against Andrew Bailey. After Dioner Navarro doubled and B.J. Upton walked against Brad Ziegler (0-1), Crawford lined the winning single to center.

Adam Kennedy had an RBI single and Ryan Sweeney drew a bases-loaded walk off Joe Nelson (1-0) to give Oakland a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1=

Jason Bay set a Red Sox record with his 11th straight homer with runners on base and Jon Lester rebounded from two bad outings as Boston completed a three-game sweep.

Bay hit his 13th homer, a two-run shot in a three-run first inning, and Boston led 5-0 before Aaron Hill singled in Toronto's run in the seventh.

The Blue Jays began the series with the most runs in the majors but totaled just five against the Red Sox and suffered their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Angels 3, Mariners 0=

Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr. and Howie Kendrick accounted for the Angels' first three hits of the game with home runs, and Joe Saunders made the lead stand up over the Mariners.

Rivera welcomed back Seattle starter Erik Bedard - scratched from his last start with a bad hamstring - by hooking a 3-1 pitch just inside the left-field pole with two outs in the first. Two innings later, Matthews went deep for the first time since Sept. 23, also against Seattle, with a line drive into the Angels' bullpen in left.

Kendrick capped the night with a solo shot off reliever Garrett Olson with two outs in the eighth.