Walk in park for Yankees

Drained by a difficult week, the New York Yankees needed an uplifting victory.

That's exactly what they got yesterday.

Derek Jeter sparked the stagnant offense, Jorge Posada drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, and the Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit for a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

"These are the games you have to know how to win," Jeter said.

Especially when the previous five days produced nothing but turmoil. New York's 22-0 loss to Cleveland last Tuesday was the worst in franchise history. Then starter Kevin Brown broke his non-pitching hand when he punched a clubhouse wall in frustration Friday night.

That's no way to settle into a September pennant race. Leave it to Jeter to turn things around.

"In the time I've been here, the nine years, he's been the guy who's made this club go," manager Joe Torre said.

Jeter reached base four times and scored three runs for the Yankees, who earned their major league-leading 53d comeback win. Bernie Williams had his first sacrifice bunt since April 25, 1996, moving Jeter to third in the ninth.

Angels 2, Indians 1 -- John Lackey allowed two hits in 7 1/3 innings and Anaheim moved a little closer to Oakland in the West with a 2-1 victory in Cleveland. Lackey gave up doubles in the sixth and eighth innings in leading the Angels to a three-game sweep that pulled them within three games of A's in the AL West.

Troy Glaus homered off Jake Westbrook for Anaheim, which has won 15 of 20 and trails the Red Sox by 3 1/2 for the wild card.

Blue Jays 13, A's 5 -- Rookie Gabe Gross hit his first career grand slam and Russ Adams hit his first major league home run, leading Toronto to a rout of Oakland at SkyDome. It was a big day for rookies. Gross collected five RBIs, Adams drove in three, and Bobby Crosby and Nick Swisher homered for the West-leading A's, who have lost just three of their last 19 games.

Oakland made five errors, its most since committing five Sept. 3, 2003, at Baltimore. The club record is seven.

White Sox 6, Mariners 2 -- Joe Borchard and Paul Konerko each hit two-run homers to back a strong outing by Felix Diaz and Chicago won its third straight over visiting Seattle. Ichiro Suzuki went 1 for 4 to give the Mariner a major league-leading 224 hits, 33 short of the all-time season record. He has 26 games to reach the record of 257 hits, set by George Sisler in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns.

Royals 12, Twins 3 -- Jimmy Gobble pitched a complete game and Joe Randa went 4 for 5 with a homer as Kansas City beat Minnesota at the Metrodome for the first time in nine tries this year.