Yankees' skid stopped

The New York Yankees ended their six-game losing streak with a late rally, perhaps putting George Steinbrenner at ease for a while.

Ruben Sierra's sacrifice fly in the 10th inning sent New York past the Minnesota Twins, 4-3, last night in Minneapolis.

Joe Nathan (1-2) walked Hideki Matsui with one out, and Alex Rodriguez singled him to third. Sierra, who struck out with the bases loaded as a pinch hitter in the eighth, smacked a fly to deep center field -- where Torii Hunter caught it but had no other play.

Tom Gordon (1-3) threw two scoreless innings for the victory. Mariano Rivera, who has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances, picked up his 13th save in 15 opportunities by pitching the 10th.

Steinbrenner, the team's impatient owner, put the pressure on this weekend for a turnaround, holding a conference call with manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman and stressing that this $200 million club is letting down New York's devoted fans.

Jacque Jones hit a three-run homer for the Twins.

Orioles 14, Tigers 7 -- Rafael Palmeiro and Melvin Mora each hit grand slams, and Baltimore rallied to win in Detroit.

Jay Gibbons doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Miguel Tejada followed Mora's grand slam in the ninth with his 15th homer of year.

Palmeiro's drive to right with one out in the fifth off Tigers starter Wilfredo Ledezma tied the score at 7. It was his first grand slam since July 28, 2003, for Texas at Seattle, and the 559th homer of his career.

White Sox 6, Indians 5 -- Jon Garland got his ninth win on his third try, and Paul Konerko and Joe Crede homered to help host Chicago beat Cleveland.

After starting 8-0, Garland lost two straight, but yesterday's effort made him the third nine-game winner in the majors, joining Toronto's Roy Halladay and Florida's Dontrelle Willis.

Garland (9-2) went 6 2/3 innings and allowed nine hits and four runs, including Victor Martinez's solo homer that cut Chicago's lead to 4-3 in the sixth.

Athletics 5, Blue Jays 2 -- Eric Byrnes hit a two-run homer and Nick Swisher hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh for host Oakland to help Joe Blanton earn his first major league victory.

Dan Johnson added three hits as the A's won their fifth in six games following a season-worst eight-game skid.

Vernon Wells and Alex Rios each homered for the Blue Jays, who lost their third in four games.

Rangers 14, Royals 9 -- Chan Ho Park earned his 100th major league win, Michael Young got four hits, and Texas beat host Kansas City to hand the Royals their first loss under new manager Buddy Bell.

The Rangers got home runs from Young, Alfonso Soriano, Rod Barajas, and Laynce Nix to end Kansas City's four-game winning streak, its longest since September 2003.

Mariners 6, Devil Rays 5 -- Pinch hitter Dave Hansen's two-out single with the bases loaded in the eighth gave host Seattle the win.

Hansen worked a full count off closer Danys Baez (4-1). He hit a fastball into center field that scored Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez. Center fielder Alex Sanchez misplayed the ball and Bret Boone scored from first.