MLB round-up: Yankees left on back foot by errors as Rays press advantage

Tampa Bay capitalised on three mistakes to steal five bases from the New York Yankees and extend their winning streak to nine straight victories.

Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez is congratulated on his home run against the Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays continued their home dominance over the New York Yankees with a ninth straight victory over the American League East leaders at Tropicana Field.

The Rays trailed early on but capitalised on three errors by stealing five bases and took a decisive lead through Sean Rodriguez's two-run homer on their way to a 7-4 triumph.

Elsewhere in American League action, Kevin Youkilis blasted his first home run for Chicago as the White Sox trounced the Texas Rangers 19-2. Youkilis went 3-for-6 with a homer and four RBI.

Coco Crisp hit a game-winning sacrifice fly - his third career walk-off RBI - as the Oakland Athletics rallied to overcome the Boston Red Sox 3-2.

The Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels 9-5, the Minnesota Twins saw off Central rivals the Detroit Tigers 8-6 and the Baltimore Orioles squeezed past the Seattle Mariners 5-4.

In the National League, Ian Desmond's two-run homer helped the Washington Nationals consolidate top spot in the East with a 9-3 hammering of the West-leading San Francisco Giants.

Milwaukee clinched a dramatic 13-12 win over Miami, Aramis Ramirez smashing a two-run homer off Heath Bell in the bottom of the 10th inning - after the Marlins had overturned a seven-run deficit - to secure a fourth straight triumph for the Brewers.

Drew Sutton's walk-off homer secured an 8-7 victory for Pittsburgh against NL Central rivals the Houston Astros - improving the Pirates to eight games over .500 for the first time since 1992.

Michael Bourn's go-ahead three-run triple in a five-run fifth inning set the Atlanta Braves on their way to a 10-3 win over the Chicago Cubs, while Jon Niese pitched eight strong innings in the New York Mets' 11-1 romp against Philadelphia - the Phillies' sixth straight loss.

Finally, the San Diego Padres prevailed 9-5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers were 3-1 winners against the Cincinnati Reds, the Colorado Rockies edged the St Louis Cardinals 3-2 and the Toronto Blue Jays won 6-3 against the Kansas City Royals.

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