NEW YORK - Derek Jeter returned to the Yankees on Sunday and hit a home run on the first pitch he saw.
But the Yankees needed more than just the Captain’s contributions to beat the Rays.
In keeping with the returning players theme on Hideki Matsui Day, it was Alfonso Soriano who went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run and a walkoff single in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 6-5 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Mariano Rivera (2-2) was the winning pitcher.
“When I see Mariano pitching and Jeter hitting, it feels like old times,” said Soriano, who was acquired from the Cubs on Friday and had been 0-for-8 in his first two games with the Yankees since being traded in 2004.
A back-and-forth game was tied going into the bottom of the ninth when Brett Gardner led off with a walk against Jake McGee (2-3). Jeter (2-for-4) squared to bunt, but McGee threw a wild pitch as Gardner took second.
Jeter was intentionally walked. Robinson Cano struck out, but Soriano grounded a single to center to score Gardner with the winning run. RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 0 Jon Lester allowed four hits over seven innings, David Ortiz went 4 for 4 with his 20th home run and visiting Boston earned its first series victory over Baltimore in two years.Mike Napoli had two doubles and an RBI for the Red Sox.
INDIANS 6, RANGERS 0 Ubaldo Jimenez pitched eight scoreless innings and host Cleveland shut out Texas for the second consecutive game. Jason Kipnis’ two-out single in the fifth broke a scoreless tie.
BLUE JAYS 2, ASTROS 1 Colby Rasmus drove in Emilio Bonifacio with a game-winning single in the ninth inning to carry host Toronto past Houston. Rajai Davis stole a career-high four bases. ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 2 Alex Gordon hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning and visiting Kansas City beat Chicago.
MARINERS 6, TWINS 4 Nick Franklin homered twice, including a three-run shot, and host Seattle held off Minnesota for the victory. Franklin and Michael Saunders both homered during a pivotal four-run fourth inning.
ATHLETICS 10, ANGELS 6 Yoenis Cespedes snapped an 0-for-13 funk with a two-run double in the third inning, added an RBI single in the fifth and then doubled in Josh Donaldson as part of a five run sixth to help host Oakland beat Los Angeles.
NATIONAL LEAGUE BRAVES 5, CARDINALS 2 Jason Heyward hit a home run and drove in two runs to help host Atlanta beat St. Louis.
CUBS 2, GIANTS 1 Travis Wood (Bryant) pitched a four-hitter over seven innings and had a home run among his two hits in helping the visiting Chicago Cubs complete a three-game sweep in San Francisco for the first time in 20 years. Wood (7-7) allowed an unearned run while walking four and striking out seven.
DODGERS 1, REDS 0 Yasiel Puig homered with two outs in the 11th inning to give host Los Angeles a victory over Cincinnati. Cincinnati pitchers set a franchise record with 20 strikeouts. Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Tim Federowicz each fanned three times as the Dodgers established their highest single-game total for strikeouts since 1957. MARLINS 3, PIRATES 2 Jose Fernandez had a team rookie record 13 strikeouts in a pitching duel with Gerrit Cole, leading host Miami past Pittsburgh.
NATIONALS 14, METS 1 Wilson Ramos hit a grand slam and rookie right-hander Taylor Jordan had six strong innings for his first major league victory to lead host Washington in a rout of New York. ROCKIES 6, BREWERS 5 Troy Tulowitzki homered early, then doubled to start a two-run rally in the eighth inning that propelled host Colorado past Milwaukee. Michael Cuddyer, Dexter Fowler and Corey Dickerson also homered for the Rockies. PADRES 1, DIAMONDBACKS 0 Tyson Ross outpitched All-Star Patrick Corbin with eight dominant innings and visiting San Diego beat Arizona to close out its first winning road trip of the season.
INTERLEAGUE TIGERS 12, PHILLIES 4 Jhonny Peralta’s grand slam capped an eight-run sixth inning and host Detroit overcame Miguel Cabrera’s ejection to beat collapsing Philadelphia. Cabrera was tossed while batting with the bases loaded in the third and Manager Jim Leyland was ejected, too.
Sunday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Miami 3, Pittsburgh 2 Washington 14, NY Mets 1 Chicago Cubs 2, San Francisco 1 LA Dodgers 1, Cincinnati 0 (11) Colorado 6, Milwaukee 5 San Diego 1, Arizona 0 Atlanta 5, St. Louis 2 AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 6, Tampa Bay 5 Cleveland 6, Texas 0 Toronto 2, Houston 1 Boston 5, Baltimore 0 Kansas City 4, Chicago White Sox 2 (12) Oakland 10, LA Angels 6 Seattle 6, Minnesota 4 INTERLEAGUE Detroit 12, Philadelphia 4
Sports, Pages 16 on 07/29/2013