BALTIMORE (AP) - Freddy Garcia returned from the disabled list to pitch six innings of two-hit ball, Nick Swisher homered and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 Monday night earn a split of the four-game series.
It was New York's second straight win without third baseman Alex Rodriguez and shortstop Derek Jeter. Rodriguez will join the team in Boston on Tuesday after getting an MRI on his sore left thumb in New York, and Jeter rested a bruised right knee but was available "in case of an emergency," manager Joe Girardi said.
Mark Teixeira doubled in a run for the Yankees, who moved within 1½ games of the first-place Red Sox in the AL East.
Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy homered for Baltimore, which was seeking to win a four-game series against New York for the first time since 1997.
After being sidelined for three weeks with a cut right index finger, Garcia (11-7) picked up where he left off.
Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth to complete the three-hitter and earn his 34th save.
Alfredo Simon (4-7) gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings for Baltimore.
Athletics 2, Indians 1
CLEVELAND (AP) - Carlos Santana homered and David Huff and four relievers combined to limit the Athletics to five hits in the Indians' win.
Huff (2-2) gave up three hits over six scoreless innings to win for the first time in six starts, since beating Minnesota in his season debut on July 18.
Chris Perez worked a perfect ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances for Cleveland, which has won three of four.
Santana hit his 20th homer to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning against Brandon McCarthy (7-7), who lost for the second time in nine starts since July 15. It was only the eighth homer allowed by the right-hander and seventh without a runner on base.
Royals 9, Tigers 5
DETROIT (AP) - Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar hit back-to-back homers and the Royals beat the first-place Tigers.
Alex Gordon also homered and Johnny Giavotella added a bases-loaded double for the Royals, who came in 18½ games behind Central Division leaders.
Luke Hochevar (9-10) ended a four-start winless streak. He gave up five runs on eight hits in seven innings.
Max Scherzer (13-8) allowed seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in three-plus innings to drop to 2-2 in August. Both losses were to the Royals.
Blue Jays 7, Rays 3
TORONTO (AP) - Jose Bautista hit his 38th home run, Ricky Romero won his sixth straight decision and the Blue Jays beat the Rays to avoid a four-game sweep.
Adam Lind added a two-run homer as Toronto snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and overcame a two-homer night from Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon.
Bautista tied Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson for the major league lead in homers with a solo drive in the sixth that hit off the facing of the third deck in left.
Romero (13-9) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. The left-hander, who walked four and struck out two, has not lost since July 16 against New York.
White Sox 3, Twins 0
CHICAGO (AP) - Mark Buehrle pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Tyler Flowers drove in two runs as the White Sox beat the Twins.
The White Sox have won four straight and improved to two games above .500 for the first time since April 13. They also moved within five games of the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers.
Buehrle (11-6) pitched around two walks in 7 2-3 innings and struck out four. He won his 159th game, tying him for sixth on the White Sox's all-time list.
Buehrle has allowed only one earned run in 30 2-3 innings this season against the Twins and has 27 wins in his career against Minnesota. He has more wins against the Twins than any other active pitcher has against a single opponent.
Mariners 5, Angels 3
SEATTLE (AP) - Mike Carp hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Mariners to a victory over the Angels.
Dustin Ackley, who had three hits and a pair of RBIs, opened the eighth with a double. Carp then hit the first pitch from Hisanori Takahashi (3-3) 432 feet into a fan's lap in the second-deck restaurant in left field.
The drive gave Carp 22 RBIs in August. Danny Tartabull holds the club record with 25 RBIs in a month, in July 1986.
The loss dropped the Angels 3½ games behind idle Texas in the AL West.
Tom Wilhelmsen (2-0) earned the victory with one inning of relief. Brandon League finished the ninth for his 32nd save in 37 opportunities.