Yankees slip past Nationals

Sabathia (6-4) held Washington in check after light-hitting Anderson Hernandez’s three-run homer in the fifth gave the Nationals the lead. The 6-foot-7-inch lefthander departed after walking Nick Johnson with two outs in the eighth inning and received a standing ovation.

Brian Bruney, activated off the disabled list earlier in the day, made just his second appearance since April 21 and got Ryan Zimmerman to ground out. Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances.

Shairon Martis pitched six effective innings for the Nationals, who have lost 16 of 19 and fallen to a major league-worst 16-46. Washington manager Manny Acta, whose team is 6-24 on the road, said before the game he wasn’t concerned about a foxsports.com report last weekend that said he will be fired and replaced by hitting coach Jim Riggleman.

Martis allowed four hits and one earned run before handing a 3-2 lead over to the Nationals bullpen, which entered 5-22 with a 5.59 ERA.

Johnny Damon started the seventh with a single off former Yankee Ron Villone (3-4) and scored all the way from first when Mark Teixeira followed with a double off the wall in left-center field. Alex Rodriguez struck out, drawing some boos from the crowd, but Cano drove Villone’s 2-2 pitch over center fielder Elijah Dukes to put New York ahead.

Mets 6, Orioles 4 - First baseman Aubrey Huff muffed a seventh-inning pop down the right-field line that produced two unearned runs, and New York won in Baltimore.

Three Baltimore errors led to three tainted Mets runs, helping Mike Pelfrey (5-2) earn his first win in more than five weeks.

Brewers 7, Indians 5 - Yovani Gallardo won for the third time in four starts despite walking a season-high six as visiting Milwaukee beat Cleveland.

Rangers 6, Astros 1 - Ian Kinsler homered twice and Texas beat visiting Houston.

Kinsler, 4 for 33 with no RBIs the previous eight games, put the Rangers ahead with his fourth leadoff homer this season.

Royals 5, Diamondbacks 0 - Gil Meche (4-5) pitched a four-hit shutout and Mark Teahen had three hits and drove in a run as host Kansas City shut out Arizona.

Cardinals 11, Tigers 2 - Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run in five games - and the longest homer at Busch Stadium this season - and Adam Wainwright (7-4) worked seven strong innings to help host St. Louis rout Detroit and ace Justin Verlander.

Angels 8, Giants 1 - Mike Napoli had a three-run homer among his four hits, pitcher Sean O’Sullivan won his major league debut, and Los Angeles triumphed in San Francisco for its season-best fifth straight victory.

Mariners 5, Padres 0 - Felix Hernandez pitched a two-hitter to lead Seattle, handing host San Diego a record-setting 12th straight interleague loss.

Rays 12, Rockies 4 - Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Tampa Bay overpowered Colorado in Denver, snapping the Rockies’ 11-game winning streak with a franchise-best 11 extra-base hits.

Twins 8, Pirates 2 - Glen Perkins (2-3) won his first start off the disabled list, Joe Mauer backed him with his second four-hit game of the season and Minnesota defeated visiting Pittsburgh.

Blue Jays 8, Phillies 3 - Scott Rolen singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Toronto scored four more runs to win in Philadelphia.

Reds 7, Braves 2 - Laynce Nix drove in three runs and Brandon Phillips had three hits on a soggy field, helping host Cincinnati overcome a couple of rain delays for a victory over Atlanta that ended a four-game losing streak.

Last night’s game between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field was rained out. No makeup date was announced.