Hank Blalock's two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Texas Rangers to a 9-7 victory over Los Angeles Angels in the American League.

Juan Rivera's three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth tied the game at 7-7 as the Angels erased a six-run deficit, but they were unable to stop the Rangers cutting Los Angeles' lead at the top of the West to just half a game.

In Baltimore, Julio Lugo singled in the winning run in the 11th before Jonathan Papelbon became Boston's career saves leader by closing out a 6-5 victory over the Orioles.

After blowing an 10-1 lead to lose 11-10 a day earlier, the East leading Red Sox used a four-run ninth to level the contest and after Lugo singled, Papelbon recorded three outs in the 11th for his 20th save this season and 133rd with the Red Sox to edge ahead of Bob Stanley.

New York remained two and a half games back of Boston after Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer and Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings as the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 to record a seventh consecutive victory.

Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also homered for the Yankees, while Mariano Rivera saved his third game in a row to claim his 502nd career save.

At Progressive Field, Jose Contreras pitched eight innings to help the Chicago White Sox win their fifth straight contest with a 6-2 triumph over the slumping Cleveland Indians.

The White Sox moved within three games of Detroit at the top of the Central Division after Jason Giambi and Jack Cust both hit two-run homers to lift the Oakland Athletics to a 5-1 victory over the Tigers.

Elsewhere, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered as the Toronto Blue Jays ended the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak with a 5-0 victory.

Finally, Joe Mauer went 3-for-3 as the Minnesota Twins recorded a 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.