High-five for Yankees

Alex Rodriguez also had a key two-run single for an efficient New York squad, which made the most of just six hits. The Yankees are a major league-best 43-22 since Rodriguez came off the disabled list May 8 following hip surgery.

The Yankees (56-37) improved to a season-best 19 games over .500 and took a one-game lead in the AL East over the Red Sox, which lost to Texas.

Mitre, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed four runs, three earned, and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first major league start since Sept. 15, 2007. It was his first win since July 29, 2007, for Florida at San Francisco.

The 28-year-old righthander is serving as the Yankees’ fifth starter with Chien-Ming Wang sidelined by a strained right shoulder.

Brian Roberts had three hits for Baltimore, which has lost nine straight in the Bronx and fell to 1-13 in road games against the AL East this season. Roberts is batting .433 (13 for 30) in his last seven games.

Angels sweep Royals, 8-5, 10-2 - Erick Aybar broke open a close game with a three-run triple and had seven hits in two games, helping Los Angeles complete a doubleheader sweep in Kansas City, Mo.

Aybar used his bat and legs to lift the Angels to an 8-5 win in the opener, with three hits, three runs and an RBI. He did all the damage with his bat in the nightcap, finishing a homer short of the cycle after a bases-loaded triple off Juan Cruz started the Angels’ seven-run seventh inning.

Nationals 4, Mets 0 - John Lannan threw his first career shutout, scattering seven hits against visiting New York.

Lannan (7-7) did not walk a batter and struck out one, getting 17 ground outs. He did not give up an extra-base hit and only once did he allow a batter to reach second base, when he gave up two singles in the third inning.

Phillies 4, Cubs 1 - Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 13th inning to send host Philadelphia to its 10th straight victory.

The NL East-leading Phillies are on their longest winning streak in 18 years. They won 13 in a row from July 30 to Aug. 12, 1991.

Rays 3, White Sox 2 - Carlos Pena’s sacrifice fly off Bobby Jenks capped a two-run ninth, and Tampa Bay won in Chicago.

Astros 11, Cardinals 6 - Carlos Lee’s grand slam was one of three homers that led host Houston over St. Louis.

Dodgers 12, Reds 3 - Rafael Furcal hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Matt Kemp added a two-run shot, and Los Angeles defeated Cincinnati for its 11th consecutive home victory over the Reds.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 5 - Miguel Montero singled and scored the tying run in the seventh inning, then hit a two-run home run in the eighth, lifting Arizona in Denver.

Brewers 2, Pirates 0 - Braden Looper (9-4) allowed four hits over seven innings as Milwaukee won in Pittsburgh.

Braves 8, Giants 1 - Martin Prado (three hits, three runs) and host Atlanta continued a hot July, beating San Francisco to move two games over .500 for the first time in almost two months.

Tigers 9, Mariners 7 - Magglio Ordonez hit a grand slam in a five-run first inning and host Detroit held on to beat Seattle.

Indians 2, Blue Jays 1 - Victor Martinez hit a two-run double in the ninth inning and Cliff Lee pitched his second straight complete game, leading Cleveland in Toronto and enabling the Indians to snap a four-game skid.

Twins 3, Athletics 2 - Michael Cuddyer hit a go-ahead triple in the 10th inning a night after he was called out in a game-ending play at home trying to score the tying run, and Minnesota won in Oakland.

Marlins 3, Padres 2 - Chris Volstad (7-9) pitched seven strong innings to lead visiting Florida over San Diego.