Yanks gain four-game series split vs Orioles

BALTIMORE – Freddy Garcia returned from the disabled list to pitch six innings of two-hit ball and Nick Swisher homered as the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2, Monday to earn a split of the four-game series.

It was New York’s second straight win without third baseman Alex Rodriguez and shortstop Derek Jeter. Rodriguez will join the team in Boston on Tuesday after getting an MRI on his sore left thumb in New York, and Jeter rested a bruised right knee but was available “in case of an emergency,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Mark Teixeira doubled in a run for the Yankees, who moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Red Sox in the AL East.

Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy homered for Baltimore, which was seeking to win a four-game series against New York for the first time since 1997.

At Cleveland, Carlos Santana homered and David Huff and four relievers combined to limit the Athletics to five hits in Cleveland’s 2-1 win.

Huff (2-2) gave up three hits over six scoreless innings to win for the first time in six starts, since beating Minnesota in his season debut on July 18.

Santana hit his 20th homer to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning against Brandon McCarthy (7-7), who lost for the second time in nine starts since July 15. It was only the eighth homer allowed by the right-hander and seventh without a runner on base.

At Detroit, Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar hit back-to-back homers as Kansas City beat first-place Detroit, 9-5.

Alex Gordon also homered and Johnny Giavotella added a bases-loaded double for the Royals, who came in 18 1/2 games behind Central Division leaders.

Luke Hochevar (9-10) ended a four-start winless streak. He gave up five runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Max Scherzer (13-8) allowed seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in three-plus innings to drop to 2-2 in August. Both losses were to the Royals.(AP)