New York – Mike Mussina won his first game in more than a month, Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 25th homer and the New York Yankees defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Wednesday night to extend their season-high winning streak to eight.
Hideki Matsui hit a three-run homer and Jorge Posada also connected for New York, which has won 11 of its past 13 games to move above .500 for the first time since April 20.
Mussina (3-3) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings to earn his first win since beating Texas on May 9. He also became the first major-league pitcher with 20 interleague wins, running his record to 20-10 in 40 starts, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
PADRES 9, DEVIL RAYS 0 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: Jake Peavy (8-1) allowed two hits in seven innings and the Padres hit three home runs and snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak.
Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Terrmel Sledge went deep for San Diego.
DODGERS 9, METS 1 at Los Angeles: Brad Penny (8-1) pitched seven sharp innings and Los Angeles broke open a tight game with consecutive three-run innings against Jorge Sosa.
Penny gave up seven hits, struck out seven and walked none.
BLUE JAYS 7, GIANTS 4 at San Francisco: Toronto handed San Francisco rookie Tim Lin- cecum (2-1) his first major-league loss and avoided a three-game sweep.
PHILLIES 8, WHITE SOX 4 at Philadelphia:Aaron Rowand hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to help Philadelphia complete its first home sweep of the season.
PIRATES 8, RANGERS 1 at Pittsburgh: Ian Snell (6-4) pitched his first career complete game and Jose Bautista had three hits and three RBIs in Pittsburgh’s victory.
TWINS 6, BRAVES 0 at Minneapolis: Carlos Silva (4-7) pitched his second career shutout while Torii Hunter dropped down a rare bunt for an RBI single and later hit the last of Minnesota’s three home runs.
BREWERS 3, TIGERS 2 at Detroit: Milwaukee’s Bill Hall hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning.
CUBS 3, MARINERS 2 at Chicago: Sean Marshall (3-2) pitched eight strong innings as Chicago snapped Seattle’s season-high five-game winning streak.
ATHLETICS 7, ASTROS 3 at Houston: Mark Ellis hit a two-run double in the eighth inning off Dan Wheeler as Oakland rallied past Houston.
INDIANS 7, MARLINS 3 at Miami: Cleveland’s David Dellucci broke a tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
CARDINALS 7, ROYALS 3 at Kansas City, Mo.: Adam Wainwright (5-5) allowed one hit in a career-high eight innings and Albert Pujols drove in three runs in St. Louis’ victory .
NATIONALS 9, ORIOLES 6 (11) at Baltimore : Felipe Lopez hit a bases-loaded triple off Chris Ray in the 11th inning to carry as Washington beat Baltimore in an interleague matchup between last-place teams.
