Two big home runs and a brilliant effort by the bullpen sent the
Raul Ibanez tied the game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, pinch hitter Eric Chavez came through with a go-ahead shot moments later, and the Yankees rallied past the Mets, 4-3, Saturday night at Citi Field to stop a three-game skid.
The Yankees won for the fourth time in five Subway Series matchups this season. The finale is quite an attraction, too, with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey coming off consecutive one-hitters when he faces Yankees ace CC Sabathia Sunday night.
The homers by Ibanez and Chavez helped the Yankees overcome a three-run deficit against Chris Young. They also bailed out righthander Ivan Nova, who left trailing, 3-0, in the sixth after winning his previous five starts.
Nova had seven strikeouts, and five Yankees relievers combined for eight more in 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball.
Phillies 7, Rays 6 - Pinch hitter Jim Thome hit a home run leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Philadelphia over Tampa Bay after Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save in 18 chances this season.
Thome connected off Jake McGee (2-2) for home run No. 609, tying Sammy Sosa for seventh place on baseball’s career list.
Dodgers 3, Angels 1 - Chris Capuano outdueled Ervin Santana with seven gritty innings, leading the Dodgers over the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., and helping end the NL West leaders’ four-game losing streak.
Capuano (9-2) allowed a run and seven hits, struck out four, and walked none. The lefthander worked with runners on base in every inning except the second.
Blue Jays 7, Marlins 1- Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking homer in the top of the ninth and Colby Rasmus had a grand slam later in the inning, lifting Toronto in Miami.
Encarnacion led off the ninth with his 21st home run off Steve Cishek (4-1) to break a 1-all tie.
White Sox 8, Brewers 6- Dayan Viciedo homered and drove in four runs and Alex Rios delivered a tiebreaking single in the seventh as Chicago rallied to beat visiting Milwaukee.
With the game tied, 6-6, Gordon Beckham led off the seventh with a single and stole second. After an intentional walk to Paul Konerko, Rios put Chicago ahead for good.
Nationals 3, Orioles 1 - Edwin Jackson (4-4) took a one-hitter into the seventh inning, Adam LaRoche homered, and Washington beat rookie Wei-Yin Chen in Baltimore.
Cardinals 8, Royals 2 - Matt Holliday (4 for 5, 2 RBIs) and Allen Craig (3 RBIs) paced another big game for the St. Louis offense, and Adam Wainwright (6-7) took advantage of the run support in Kansas City, Mo.
Rockies 11, Rangers 7 - Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson had consecutive two-out, two-run singles in an early outburst as visiting Colorado held on to end Texas’s seven-game winning streak.
Astros 8, Indians 1 - Rookie Dallas Keuchel pitched a complete game and J.D. Martinez and Jordan Schafer hit consecutive homers in host Houston’s four-run fifth inning, leading the Astros over Cleveland.
Reds 6, Twins 0 - Johnny Cueto (9-3) remained unbeaten in June by pitching seven innings and driving in a pair of runs with a squeeze bunt and a bases-loaded ground out, leading Cincinnati over visiting Minnesota.
Giants 9, Athletics 8 - Brandon Belt hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning, Buster Posey added a two-run drive in the seventh, and visiting San Francisco backed Madison Bumgarner’s fourth straight win with just enough offense, holding on for a victory over Oakland.
Mariners 5, Padres 1- Felix Hernandez pitched seven impressive innings and hit a two-run double to lead Seattle in San Diego. Hernandez (5-5) struck out 10 and walked one.
Pirates 4, Tigers 1- Brad Lincoln allowed two hits and a run in six innings, Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer, and host Pittsburgh won for the sixth time in seven games.