New York ? Once Hideki Matsui was injured, he really started hurting – opposing pitchers, that is.

Still in the designated-hitter role because of a twisted right ankle, Matsui hit a go-ahead homer and drove in five runs as New York rallied late to keep the Chicago Cubs winless at Yankee Stadium with a 9-6 victory Friday night.

“All of a sudden, something bad happens, but something good comes from it,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Matsui, an All-Star outfielder, tweaked himself last weekend in St. Louis while making a play. Determined to stay in the lineup, he’s quickly adjusted to becoming a DH, connecting for three home runs in four games.

He’s done so well that Torre and the Yankees have joked he might stay in that role.

“I enjoy playing defense, bit if he tells me to send my glove home, I’ll do so,” Matsui kidded through a translator.

Matsui homered, doubled and singled in leading New York to its fourth straight win.

The Cubs fell to 0-5 in the ballpark, having been swept in the World Series in 1932 and 1938. They had not been back in the Bronx for 67 years.

“Matsui, this guy killed us all night long,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “This guy can hit. It doesn’t seem to matter if you bring in a lefty or a righty.”

New York's Hideki Matsui blasts a two-run home run against Chicago. The Yankees defeated the Cubs, 9-6, Friday night in New York.

Cheered on by Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and boosted by chants of “Let’s go, Cubbies!” that echoed in the sellout crowd of 54,773, Chicago overcame an early four-run deficit and took a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning.

After Gary Sheffield’s shot into the stands was reversed by umpires and called a foul ball – correctly – in the first inning, Matsui put one into the seats that counted and capped a three-run rally in the seventh.

Matsui added a two-run double in the eighth. He also had an RBI single.

Carlos Zambrano, the first Cubs pitcher to face a New York lineup at Yankee Stadium since Dizzy Dean, took a two-run lead into the seventh. But Sheffield doubled with one out, and Alex Rodriguez followed with an RBI single that finished Zambrano.

Matsui promptly lined a 2-0 pitch from lefty Will Ohman (2-1) over the right-field wall for a 7-6 lead.

Giants 4, Tigers 0

Detroit – Jason Schmidt pitched eight strong innings, and Tyler Walker worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth by striking out three straight batters to lead San Francisco over Detroit. Schmidt (4-3) had a four-hitter through eight innings and didn’t allow a runner to reach third until Placido Polanco, Dmitri Young and Rondell White singled in the ninth. Walker relieved and struck out Ivan Rodriguez, Craig Monroe and Chris Shelton for his 10th save.

Indians 13, Diamondbacks 6

Cleveland – Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore hit back-to-back homers, and Casey Blake had two hits and three RBIs during Cleveland’s 10-run third inning as the Indians won their seventh straight.

Arizona became the first team since the 1969 New York Mets to allow 10 runs in an inning in consecutive games. The Mets did it on one day – during a July 30 doubleheader against the Houston Astros.

Travis Hafner had three RBIs, and Coco Crisp went 3-for-5 for the Indians, who have won 10 of 11 and are 18-7 since May 21. The winning streak is the club’s longest since winning 10 in a row in 2002.

Red Sox 6, Pirates 5

Boston – Johnny Damon bounced a bases-loaded single through a drawn-in infield to break a ninth-inning tie, giving Boston a victory over Pittsburgh. The Pirates had a runner thrown out at the plate in the eighth, and Boston had a runner on third with none out in the bottom half, but neither could break the 5-all tie.

Rockies 2, Orioles 1

Baltimore – Todd Helton ended a lengthy home run drought, and Jason Jennings scattered six hits over seven innings to lead Colorado to its fifth road win of the season.

Rangers 8, Nationals 1

Arlington, Texas – Kenny Rogers pitched out of trouble all night to win his career-best ninth straight decision, and Texas defeated Washington. Hank Blalock hit a solo homer and two RBI singles, and Kevin Mench also connected for the Rangers, who from 1961-71 were the expansion Washington Senators – the last team to play in the nation’s capital until the Montreal Expos moved there this year.

Phillies 6, Athletics 1

Oakland, Calif. – Robinson Tejeda earned his first major-league win, and Todd Pratt drove in three runs to lead Philadelphia past Oakland. Chase Utley doubled twice and drove in a run for the Phillies. Mark Kotsay had two hits for the A’s, who lost their second straight following wins in eight of their previous nine home games.

Twins 5, Padres 4, 11 innings

Minneapolis – Glenn Williams drove in his first major-league run with a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning to lift Minnesota over San Diego. Juan Rincon (4-2) pitched two shutout innings to get the win for the Twins, who are 9-4 in extra innings.

Blue Jays 9, Brewers 5

Toronto – Frank Menechino hit his first two homers of the season, and Eric Hinske added a three-run shot to lead Toronto. Toronto jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first against Doug Davis (8-6).

Mariners 5, Mets 0

Seattle – Ichiro Suzuki hit a three-run homer, and Jamie Moyer pitched into the eighth inning, leading Seattle over New York. Facing Japanese countryman Kazuhisa Ishii for the first time in a regular-season major-league game, Suzuki connected in the second inning. He added a run-scoring single in the sixth, giving him a season-high four RBIs, and finished with three hits. Moyer (6-2) allowed six hits in 72â3 innings. The 42-year-old left-hander earned his 198th career win.

White Sox 6, Dodgers 0

Chicago – Mark Buehrle won his seventh straight decision, pitching an eight-hitter to lead Chicago over Los Angeles. Buehrle (8-1) struck out six, walked none and didn’t give up an extra-base hit in his second complete game of the season. It was his sixth career shutout, his first since last July 21 against Cleveland.

Angels 3, Marlins 2 11 innings

Anaheim, Calif. – Jeff DaVanon’s RBI single in the 11th inning gave Los Angeles a victory over Florida. DaVanon had entered the game as a pinch runner two innings earlier. Los Angeles’ Scot Shields (6-4) pitched a scoreless 11th inning.

Cardinals 6, Devil Rays 4

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Mark Mulder allowed three runs over seven innings, helping St. Louis beat Tampa Bay for his first win in more than three weeks. Mulder (8-4) gave up four hits.