OAKLAND, CALIF. ? Mark Mulder became the majors’ first 17-game winner, and the Oakland Athletics moved a season-best 19 games over .500 with a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

Eric Chavez and Jermaine Dye each homered for the A’s, who won for the eighth time in 10 games to maintain their narrow lead over Anaheim in the AL West race.

Mulder (17-4) didn’t have his best stuff, and he had to labor through innings more than usual, but was staked to a four-run lead in the first by the A’s offense.

The Orioles lost their eighth straight, scoring in the second on Darnell McDonald’s RBI groundout and in the fifth on a double by Melvin Mora. They’re on a season-high 13-game road trip — the club’s longest stretch away from home since the 2000 season.

Sidney Ponson (8-13) struggled against the A’s lineup for the second straight start, allowing four runs on four hits in the first inning.

A’s manager Ken Macha batted Erubiel Durazo in the cleanup spot against Ponson after the designated hitter homered twice off the right-hander — and three times in all — Wednesday. Dye has been in the No. 4 hole most of the year.

Durazo hit an RBI single in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, matching his season high. The hit led to a two-base error by right fielder Jay Gibbons, who overthrew third trying to get Chavez and the ball rolled into the A’s dugout. Mark Kotsay scored on Durazo’s hit and Chavez came home on the error, which got Durazo to third. Dye followed with a two-run homer.

Yankees 5, Indians 4

Cleveland — Derek Jeter homered leading off the game for his 1,000th career run, then stole a pair of bases in the ninth inning and scored on Hideki Matsui’s two-out single to lead New York over Cleveland, the Indians’ ninth straight loss.

New York, which rallied from a 4-1 deficit, has won two straight after losing six of seven. It was the Yankees’ 48th come-from-behind win, the most in the major leagues.

Cleveland, which had been one game behind AL Central-leading Minnesota on Aug. 15, is on its longest streak since losing 10 straight in 1979.

White Sox 9, Tigers 5

Detroit — Juan Uribe homered, scored the go-ahead run and drove in three runs, helping Chicago beat Detroit to end a five-game losing streak. Jon Garland (9-9) won for just the second time in nine starts since defeating Seattle on July 9, giving up four runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Wilfredo Ledezma (3-1), who had won his previous two starts, allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, which matched his longest outing since moving into the starting rotation on July 30.

Rangers 5, Twins 4

Arlington, Texas — Mark Teixeira singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, and Texas rallied to beat Minnesota and stop the Twins’ four-game winning streak.

With the Twins in front, 4-3, Gerald Laird led off the ninth with a single off Joe Nathan (1-2). After Alfonso Soriano and David Dellucci struck out, Michael Young doubled into the left-field corner to tie the score, giving Nathan just his third blown save in 37 chances.

Hank Blalock was walked intentionally, Nathan threw a wild pitch and Teixeira singled just inside the right-field foul line.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4

Toronto — Doug Mirabelli hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, and Mike Timlin pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom half, helping Boston beat Toronto. Manny Ramirez drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who have won seven of eight. Tim Wakefield (10-7) allowed three runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings for his fifth win in his last six starts. Keith Foulke got four outs for his 23rd save.

With the Blue Jays leading 3-2 in the sixth, Orlando Cabrera hit a one-out double and Bill Mueller followed with a walk. Mirabelli then hit a 2-1 pitch from Miguel Batista (9-10) to left to give Boston a 5-3 lead.

Devil Rays 6, Mariners 5

Seattle — Tino Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first inning to back Rob Bell, and Tampa Bay hung on to beat Seattle. Seattle (46-78) dropped 32 games under .500 for the first time since finishing the 1983 season 60-102. The Mariners have been in last place in the AL West since the second day of the season.

Bell (6-7) allowed two runs — only one earned — and three hits in seven innings. Martinez, who reached 20 homers for the ninth time, tied Cecil Fielder for 87th on the career list at 319.