Jarrod Washburn overcame an upset stomach to pitch a gem, while Tim Wakefield fooled everyone with his knuckleball for his 100th career win.
Mike Mussina, on the other hand, needed help from the Yankees' offense to get a much-needed victory.
Washburn allowed just three hits over eight innings Sunday to win for the 15th time in 16 decisions as the Anaheim Angels edged the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0.
"That's the best game I've pitched," said Washburn (15-3). "I was pretty sick in the first three innings. I was almost throwing up on the mound. I didn't know if I would last much longer."
Washburn's effort helped the Angels remain one-half game ahead of Boston in the wild card race.
The Red Sox beat the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins 3-1 behind Wakefield's eight innings of four-hit ball. He matched a season high with seven strikeouts and allowed just two runners to reach base in the first five innings.
"It is a special win today. My parents were here to see it and they saw my first," Wakefield (6-4) said. "It's a special win for us as a team, considering we haven't been playing too good."
In New York, Mussina allowed 11 hits and four runs in six innings, but the Yankees roughed up Mark Mulder and beat the Oakland Athletics 8-5.
"I've got a lot to improve on," said Mussina (14-6), who has allowed 16 runs and 32 hits in 16 innings over his last three starts. "I'm working hard at it, and the guys have been out there supporting me offensively quite a bit."
Washburn retired 17 straight between Dave Berg's double with one out in the first and his infield single to lead off the seventh. The 27-year-old left-hander struck out five and walked none.
YANKEES 8, ATHLETICS 5: Alfonso Soriano homered and scored three times, and Jason Giambi drove in three runs against his former team, helping the AL East leaders maintain a four-game advantage over Boston and avoid their first three-game losing streak since May 22-24.
Soriano's leadoff single started a three-run first as the Yankees broke their 17-inning scoreless streak.
RED SOX 3, TWINS 1:Nomar Garciaparra had an RBI double, and Ugueth Urbina pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save. Johan Santana (6-4) allowed one hit through the first five innings, but the Red Sox scored twice in the sixth on Johnny Damon's double and a sacrifice fly by Shea Hillenbrand.
WHITE SOX 6, MARINERS 5:Jeff Liefer hit a three-run homer, and Joe Crede and Jose Valentin added solo shots to help host Chicago beat Seattle for its fifth win in seven games. Crede's homer was his first in the majors.
RANGERS 11, INDIANS 5: Alex Rodriguez hit his AL-leading 38th homer, and rookie Travis Hafner, needing a triple for the cycle, was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double, as visiting Texas beat Cleveland. Rodriguez had three hits, Rafael Palmeiro drove in three runs and Aaron Myette (1-4) won for the first time since last September for Texas. Frank Catalanotto singled, doubled, tripled and scored three times.
Hafner, who made his major league debut Tuesday night, went 4-for-5 with three RBIs as the Rangers roughed up Charles Nagy (1-3).
TIGERS 2, ORIOLES 1: In Detroit, Steve Sparks allowed four hits in seven-plus innings as the Tigers beat Baltimore. Damian Jackson and George Lombard had RBI singles off John Stephens (0-2) for the Tigers.
Sparks (7-11) earned his second straight victory and third in four starts.
ROYALS 10, DEVIL RAYS 0: Rookie Runelvys Hernandez and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Joe Randa hit a three-run homer as Kansas City shut out visiting Tampa Bay.
After going 3-for-4, Royals second baseman Carlos Febles was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. He was hitting .233 with four homers, 22 RBIs and 39 runs scored in 102 games this season.