Yankees overwhelm Rangers

The pitching has improved, the bottom of the lineup is breaking out of its funk, and Alex Rodriguez is driving the ball to the opposite field again.

The New York Yankees are beginning to resemble the powerhouse they were supposed to be.

Rodriguez hit his first homer in 15 days, Andy Pettitte pitched seven sharp innings, and host New York beat Texas, 8-2, last night for its seventh straight victory over the Rangers.

Derek Jeter drove in two runs and Doug Mientkiewicz started a pair of rallies from the No. 9 spot to help New York improve to 6-2 since owner George Steinbrenner called his $195 million team's 9-14 start "clearly not acceptable."

"I think we're starting to feel like we're starting to right this thing a little bit and straighten this thing out," Pettitte (2-1) said. "We're going to be all right."

Mets 4, Giants 1 -- Tom Glavine won his 294th game -- despite allowing Barry Bonds's 745th home run -- and New York won at San Francisco.

Bonds moved within 10 homers of Hank Aaron's record 755, connecting on the first pitch from Glavine for a solo shot over the center-field wall with one out in the fourth. Bonds's 11th homer of the season pulled the Giants within 4-1.

Glavine (4-1) ended a stretch of three straight no-decisions with his first victory since winning at Philadelphia April 17, allowing one run, seven hits and only his second walk in four starts. He struck out five.

Pirates 4, Cubs 3 -- Jack Wilson hit his first sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to tie the game, then hit a second one with the bases loaded in the 15th for visiting Pittsburgh.

Ryan Theriot had three hits and drove in two runs for the Cubs, who lost for the second time in 10 games and had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Ronny Paulino led off the 15th with a single off reliever Neal Cotts (0-1). Jose Bautista followed with a sacrifice bunt that first baseman Derrek Lee fielded, but his throw to second was off the mark. A throwing error by catcher Michael Barrett sent Paulino to third. Pinch hitter Zach Duke struck out, but Cotts hit Ryan Doumit to load the bases. Wilson followed with his sacrifice fly to left-center.

Twins 7, White Sox 4 -- Justin Morneau's second homer of the game, a three-run blast off Nick Masset in the 10th inning, lifted host Minnesota.

Marlins 6, Dodgers 5 -- Miguel Cabrera singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning as host Florida edged Los Angeles.

Brewers 6, Nationals 4 -- Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer and J.J. Hardy homered to extend his hitting streak to 19 games for host Milwaukee.

Indians 5, Angels 1 -- Cliff Lee tossed a two-hitter for his 50th career victory and visiting Cleveland won for the 13th time in 16 games.

Athletics 6, Royals 1 -- Chad Gaudin struck out a career-high eight and Oakland won at Kansas City.

Diamondbacks 3, Phillies 2 -- Eric Byrnes and Tony Clark hit long home runs to pace host Arizona.

Chase Utley and Greg Dobbs hit solo homers for the Phillies.

Orioles 8, Devil Rays 3 -- Jeremy Guthrie allowed one run over six innings to earn his second major league victory for host Baltimore, which got home runs from Nick Markakis and Jay Gibbons. Braves 3, Padres 2 -- Andruw Jones snapped an 0-for-21 slump with two hits, including an eighth-inning single that drove in the go-ahead run for host Atlanta.

Astros 7, Reds 6 -- Lance Berkman's second home run in two nights overshadowed the 568th of Ken Griffey Jr.'s career and lifted visiting Houston to the win.

Cardinals 4, Rockies 1 -- Pinch hitter Scott Spiezio and Adam Kennedy both drove in two runs in a four-run seventh for host St. Louis.