Boston ? Randy Johnson is pitching like the ace the New York Yankees wanted – and not a moment too soon.

With the Yankees rotation falling apart, Johnson struck out 10 in 61â3 innings to win his third straight start, and Alex Rodriguez homered on Saturday to lead New York to a 7-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

“Randy gave us a big lift today,” said Rodriguez, who hit a two-run shot to spark a six-run third inning. “It was very big for us. He’s our horse.”

One day after the Yankees lost 17-1 behind Tim Redding, an emergency starter from Triple-A, Rodriguez followed Gary Sheffield’s double with a homer over the Green Monster. Johnson (10-6) allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks, and the Yankees won for the second time in the four-game series.

Tom Gordon recorded five outs, and Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 22nd consecutive save. Robinson Cano had three hits – his fifth straight game with two or more.

“With our starting rotation beat up as it is, these two games were important for us to win,” manager Joe Torre said after the Yankees won for the ninth time in 11 games to pull within 11â2 games of Boston in the AL East.

All-Star Matt Clement (10-3) lasted just 22â3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and five walks. Johnny Damon singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 28 games – the longest in the majors this season and tied for fourth-longest in Red Sox history.

Johnson had the 206th double-digit strikeout game of his career. Only Nolan Ryan, with 215, has more.

It was a big boost for a staff that has four starters on the disabled list. Redding was called up for an emergency start Friday after Chien Ming-Wang went on the DL, and the Yankees didn’t have a starter for today until they traded for Marlins castoff Al Leiter on Saturday.

New York's Randy Johnson delivers against Boston. Johnson won his third straight start as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox, 7-4, Saturday in Boston.

Kevin Brown is scheduled to be activated from the DL to start Monday, and Carl Pavano is still a couple weeks away. Jaret Wright also is on the DL and could be back next month; Wang could miss the rest of the season.

So the Yankees needed a strong performance from Johnson to avoid losing ground to the World Series champs – and they got it.

Mariners 3, Orioles 2

Seattle – Rookie Mike Morse lined a game-winning RBI single to right field after reliever Chris Ray’s throwing error put a runner on third base, giving Seattle a victory over Baltimore. Adrian Beltre led off the ninth with a clean single to right off Ray (0-1), and Willie Bloomquist hit a dribbler that Ray fielded and threw way over the head of first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. The ball bounced into the stands, and Ray was charged with an error. It put Beltre at third and Bloomquist on second for Morse, who sent an 0-2 pitch into right field. It landed just in front of Baltimore’s B.J. Surhoff.

Twins 5, Angels 4

Minneapolis – Bret Boone’s first hit for Minnesota was a big one. Boone was hitless in his first 10 at-bats – 0-for-18 overall – with the Twins, when he fisted a single to center in the fourth inning that lifted Minnesota.

The Twins acquired Boone from Seattle in a trade during the All-Star break. He has struggled mightily at the plate this season. But he came through Saturday, capping a five-run fourth inning against Angels starter Bartolo Colon (11-6) that erased a 4-0 deficit.

Devil Rays 6, Blue Jays 5

Toronto – Carl Crawford homered and drove in three runs, and Tampa Bay defeated Toronto. Manager Lou Piniella decided Friday to drop Crawford from the leadoff spot to second. Joey Gathright went 3-for-5 as the leadoff hitter. Aubrey Huff also homered for the last-place Devil Rays.

Rangers 10, Athletics 8

Oakland, Calif. – Kenny Rogers shrugged off the constant jeering from the fans, and Texas held on to beat Oakland. Rogers (11-4), who will find out later this week if his 20-game suspension for shoving two cameramen June 29 will be shortened, pitched a six-hitter over seven innings to win for the 20th time in his past 21 decisions in Oakland. His hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Hank Blalock matched his career high with four hits, including a homer and two doubles.

White Sox 7, Indians 5

Cleveland – Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings to get back on the winning track, and Chicago beat Cleveland for its third straight victory.

Making his first start since earning the victory as the American League’s starter in Tuesday’s All-Star game, Buehrle (11-3) gave up two runs and three hits, striking out six without a walk.