Contreras bounces back as Yankees edge Blue Jays

New York Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Jose Contreras rebounded from his worst start, and Karim Garcia hit a go-ahead double in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Thursday.

Alfonso Soriano homered and Garcia went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Yankees, who are 3 1/2 games ahead of Boston in Major League Baseball's AL East.

"I knew that the team needed to get a win, especially going into the weekend against Boston," Contreras said through an interpreter. "Also because we lost the previous two games against Toronto. Thankfully, things worked out and I had a lot better outing."

The teams begin a three-game series Friday night at Yankee Stadium, with Pedro Martinez pitching against New York's Andy Pettitte.

Yankees manager Joe Torre held a team meeting before the game and told his players not to get frustrated after two straight losses at SkyDome.

Contreras (5-2), who gave up seven runs in just three innings against Boston last Friday, allowed only two runs -- one earned -- in seven innings against Toronto. The Cuban right-hander struck out a season-high seven and walked three.

"I worked so hard during the week in the bullpen so I could have a better outing this week because my last outing wasn't good at all," Contreras said. "I had everything working today, including the changeup and some forkballs. I was able to throw my fastball inside and outside, which I wasn't able to do last outing."

Mariano Rivera struck out Carlos Delgado with a runner on to end the eighth, then finished for his 32nd save in 37 chances. Rivera got Chris Woodward with a runner on third to close it out.

Bernie Williams, who was dropped to sixth in the order, doubled off Pete Walker (1-2) with one in the eighth. One out later, Garcia doubled for a 3-2 lead.

Devil Rays 1, Mariners 0

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Jorge Sosa pitched a four-hitter as Tampa Bay again blanked Seattle.

Combined with Doug Waechter's two-hitter in his first major league start Wednesday, the Devil Rays posted consecutive complete-game shutouts for the first time in their six-year history.

Damian Rolls' RBI double in the second inning accounted for the only run. Ryan Franklin lost despite pitching a six-hitter.

The loss dropped Seattle one-half game behind Boston in the AL wild-card race. The Mariners are two games behind AL West-leading Oakland.

Orioles 7, Athletics 5

In Baltimore, Brian Roberts and Larry Bigbie had two RBIs apiece as Baltimore's bullpen blunted a comeback bid by Oakland.

It was Oakland's second straight loss after a 10-game winning streak.

The A's, who limited Baltimore to 10 runs in the first seven games between the teams, yielded 16 in the final two.

Melvin Mora had two hits and scored twice for the Orioles, who won their second straight after a nine-game skid.

Tigers 2, Indians 1

In Detroit, Gary Knotts pitched effectively into the seventh inning as Detroit beat Cleveland for its third consecutive win.

The Tigers (37-102) have won three consecutive games for the first time since July 8-10 against the Chicago White Sox. Detroit needs at least six wins in its final 23 games to avoid matching the post-1900 record of 120 losses in a season, set by the 1962 Mets.

Knotts (3-5) got his first major league win since May 24, allowing one run and six hits in 6 2-3 innings in his first start since being sent to minor league team Toledo on June 23.

Cardinals 6, Cubs 7

Tony Womack singled in the go-ahead run and the Chicago Cubs ended a spirited five-game series by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Thursday despite Sammy Sosa's ejection.

The Cubs won four of five and moved within a half-game of idle Houston for first place in MLB's NL Central. St. Louis is third, a game behind the Astros.

The series featured a little bit of everything: A rain delay of more than four hours Monday; a day-night doubleheader which included a 15-inning opener; the ejections of three Cubs players and pitching coach Larry Rothschild; a shouting match between managers Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa; and a stunning comeback by the Cubs to win Wednesday after trailing 6-0.

Marlins 5, Pirates 1

In Miami, Miguel Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez emerged from slumps and sparked a four-run seventh inning to help Florida beat Pittsburgh.

Cabrera singled home the go-ahead run, and Gonzalez followed with his 16th home run. Cabrera began the game in a 1-for-33 slump, and Gonzalez was 1-for-25.

Pinch-hitter Ramon Castro, batting for the first time since he was charged with raping a woman in his Pittsburgh hotel room last week, hit his fourth home run in the seventh.

The first of Florida's three homers was by Juan Pierre.

Phillies 6, Mets 5

In Philadelphia, Mike Lieberthal's two-out RBI single in the ninth inning lifted the Phillies over New York.

The Phillies overcame another blown save by Jose Mesa to win for the sixth time in seven games and remain tied with Florida for the NL wild-card lead.

Prentice Redman, playing his fourth game in the majors, led off the ninth against Mesa with his first career homer to tie it at 5.