One game after Alex Rodriguez offended some baseball purists by distracting a fielder during a popup, the New York Yankees built on that victory by beating the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Friday and climbing out of the American League East cellar.
No longer tied for last with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York still trails Boston by 12 and a half games.
Jorge Posada had a pair of doubles, including a three-run shot to cap a six-run rally that broke a fourth-inning tie. Rodriguez reached base three times and scored twice despite the mockery of a Fenway crowd.
The game boiled over with two outs to go, when Yankees mop-up man Scott Proctor dusted Kevin Youkilis -- the fifth hit batter of the game -- and he made a move toward the mound. The benches cleared and Proctor was ejected.
Wang Chien-ming (4-4) scattered 10 hits and two walks over five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs while striking out one to win for the third time in four starts.
Tim Wakefield (5-6) lasted three and two third innings, giving up eight runs on five hits with six walks, a wild pitch and a hit batsman. He struck out two and saw his ERA balloon from 3.36 to 4.24.
Yankees manager Joe Torre was ejected for arguing the call at third base when Bobby Abreu was caught stealing in the fifth.
Indians 12, Tigers 11
At Cleveland, David Dellucci singled home the winning run with two outs to cap a five-run ninth as Cleveland rallied past Detroit.
Tigers closer Todd Jones (1-3) blew his second straight save opportunity as the reeling Tigers lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell four and a half games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.
The Indians improved baseball's best home record to 19-4, and are off to their best start at home in Cleveland's 107 years.
Roberto Hernandez (3-1) pitched one third of an inning for the win.
The Tigers led 11-7 in the ninth before Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer off Jones to make it 11-10. Jhonny Peralta followed with a double, then gave way to pinch-runner Mike Rouse.
After striking out Ryan Garko, Jones intentionally walked Trot Nixon, putting the winning run aboard. Josh Barfield poked a single to right that fell just in front of Magglio Ordonez, scoring Rouse to tie it.
Dellucci then lined a 2-1 pitch to center, scoring Nixon.
In other American League action on Friday it was:
* Royals 4, Devil Rays 1
* White Sox 3, Blue Jays 0
* Angels 3, Orioles 2
* Twins 3, Athletics 2, 10 innings
* Rangers 9, Mariners 8
Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other in the dugout then got into it again in the clubhouse with Barrett going to a hospital on Friday.
The confrontations in the 8-5 loss to Atlanta came after the Braves had just scored five runs in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1. Jeff Francoeur's two-run double made it 4-1 and, with runners on first and second, Barrett allowed a passed ball and threw wildly to third for an error that let another run score. Pitcher Kyle Davies (3-3) and Kelly Johnson followed with RBI doubles.
Zambrano and Barrett confronted each other before the bottom half of the inning but were separated and Zambrano was sent to the clubhouse by manager Lou Piniella. Barrett went to the clubhouse and wound up with a split lip. Piniella said both players will be disciplined.
Dodgers 5, Pirates 4
At Pittsburgh, Russell Martin homered for the third consecutive game and Los Angeles overcame two Pittsburgh leads for the win.
Randy Wolf (7-3) won his fourth straight although he allowed four runs over five innings.
Relievers Chad Billingsley, Joe Beimel and Takashi Saito combined for four scoreless innings for the Dodgers.
Martin's sixth homer of the season led off the fifth inning and made it 5-4, after the Dodgers had taken a 4-2 lead in a three-run fourth.
In other National League action on Friday it was:
* Nationals 4, Padres 3, 10 innings
* Giants 13, Phillies 0
* Diamondbacks 5, Mets 1
* Brewers 8, Marlins 5
* Cardinals 8, Astros 1
* Reds 4, Rockies 2
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