Ted Lilly passed his big test and kept the Cleveland Indians from doing the same.
Lilly got out of a fifth-inning jam and kept Cleveland off-balance for 6 2/3 innings as the New York Yankees won 6-2 Sunday to hand the Indians their first series loss in a month.
In three of his four previous starts, Lilly (2-0) gave up a combined eight runs in the fifth inning and failed to get past that point in his previous three outings.
Lilly allowed seven hits, didn't give up a walk and struck out six. Cleveland's 2-through-6 hitters went a combined 0-for-15 with five Ks.
The Indians, facing their first opponent with a winning record since the season's second week, dropped two of three to the Yankees after winning a franchise-record eight straight series.
Bernie Williams homered as the Yankees won for the sixth time in eight games to remain a half-game ahead of Boston in the AL East.
MARINERS 5, ROYALS 4: Mike Cameron hit an 11th-inning sacrifice fly off Jose Santiago (2-2) as visiting Seattle won its fourth straight.
At 36-12, Seattle is 24 games over .500 for the first time in team history. The Mariners are 21-5 on the road.
TWINS 9, ATHLETICS 3: Torii Hunter keyed a six-run eighth inning with a tiebreaking, two-run double off Jeff Tam after Barry Zito (3-4) walked Chad Allen leading off and hit Doug Mientkiewicz with a pitch.
Minnesota (32-16), off to its best start since 1970, moved back into first place in the AL Central, a half-game ahead of Cleveland. Oakland lost its second straight after winning nine of 10.
RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 2: Tim Wakefield (2-0) struck out seven in seven innings, allowing both runs and five hits. Derek Lowe pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Brian Daubach homered and Carl Everett had three of Boston's 10 hits as the Red Sox rallied from a 2-0 deficit at Fenway Park.
ORIOLES 3, RANGERS 1: Sidney Ponson (2-3) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings as host Baltimore (24-24) won its fifth straight to reach .500 for the first time since April 11.
Ponson, B.J. Ryan and Mike Trombley combined to end Texas' 18-game streak with at least one homer, seven short of the major league mark. Trombley got a game-ending double play for his fourth save.
DEVIL RAYS 4, ANGELS 3: Gerald Williams hit an RBI single off Al Levine (2-3) in the 10th at Tampa Bay.
After singling off Esteban Yan (2-2) in the top half, stealing second and taking third on a wild pitch, Darin Erstad was thrown out at the plate by first baseman Steve Cox on Wally Joyner's one-out grounder.
WHITE SOX 3, TIGERS 2 (11): Chris Singleton's sacrifice fly in the 11th gave Chicago a victory in Detroit.
Sandy Alomar led off the 11th with a double off Danny Patterson (3-2), and Jose Valentin followed with a bunt single.