New York ? Hoping to begin a long climb back into the AL East race, the New York Yankees took a crucial step in the right direction Monday night.

Alex Rodriguez homered for the third straight game and Chien-Ming Wang stymied Boston, sending the Yankees to a 6-2 victory that moved them within 91â2 games of the division-leading Red Sox, who still own the best record in the major leagues at 30-14.

“Everything is important from now on. We don’t have the luxury to throw games away,” Rodriguez said.

Jason Giambi snapped a 1-for-26 slide with an upper-deck homer and leadoff batter Johnny Damon got the Yankees started all game against his former team. New York improved to 2-5 this year against its biggest rival, with both wins coming vs. knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

“We’re working our way out of this hole,” Giambi said. “I hope that as this weather warms up, so does the offense.”

Building on a crisp victory the night before over the Mets that allowed them to avoid a Subway Series sweep, the patient Yankees (20-23) drew eight walks and ran on Wakefield all night. New York had five two-out RBIs, and the Red Sox went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run triple and Damon finished with three singles, a walk and two stolen bases.

“His body just looked like it was electric,” manager Joe Torre said.

After struggling previously against Boston, Wang (3-3) changed his approach, throwing more soft sliders and changeups to go with his hard sinker.

He yielded two runs and seven hits in 61â3 innings to win his second consecutive start, becoming the first Yankees pitcher with three wins this season. He left to a huge ovation from the spirited crowd of 55,078 and tipped his cap as he neared the dugout.

“All he did was keep them off balance,” pitching coach Ron Guidry said. “Give ’em something different.”

Scott Proctor escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth on a nice play by Cano at second base, and Kyle Farnsworth finished up.

Rangers 14, Twins 4

Arlington, Texas – Gerald Laird hit his first career grand slam in an eight-run fifth inning for the Texas Rangers.

Laird finished with a career-high five RBIs, and Sammy Sosa had two doubles and three RBIs for the Rangers, who scored 10 or more runs in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 14-15, 2004, against Oakland. The Rangers equaled a season high for runs in a 14-1 rout of the Houston Astros on Sunday, then matched that total against the Twins.

White Sox 8, Athletics 5

Chicago – Rob Mackowiak hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning, and Darin Erstad drove in three runs in the White Sox’s victory. Paul Konerko added three of Chicago’s season-high 14 hits and scored three runs.

Jose Contreras (4-4) allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 1-3 innings, and struck out a season-high eight and walked one. Bobby Jenks pitched out of trouble in the ninth for his 14th save.

Indians 5, Mariners 2

Cleveland – Casey Blake homered, Josh Barfield had two RBIs and the Indians remained baseball’s best home team.

The game was a makeup of the April 6 home opener at Jacobs Field, which was called after the clubs played 42â3 innings in a snowstorm that dumped more than two feet on the ballpark and caused the entire four-game series to be postponed.