NEW YORK – Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez and their New York teammates caused another meltdown by Kenny Rogers against the Yankees, overcoming Alfonso Soriano’s triumphant return to the Bronx.

Staked to a four-run lead, Rogers allowed five home runs, and Sheffield’s second of the game propelled the Yankees over the Texas Rangers 7-6 Friday night for New York’s 10th win in 11 games.

Derek Jeter left in the fourth inning with a tight left groin, and the Yankees said their captain was day to day. His bat was hardly missed, and his replacement at shortstop, Enrique Wilson, made two sparkling plays, including one that preserved the lead in the seventh inning.

Rogers, at 8-2 off to the best start of his career, resembled the struggling starter booed out of the Bronx in 1997 after two shaky seasons with the Yankees.

Twins 3, Tigers 2

MINNEAPOLIS – Torii Hunter’s solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Hunter hit a 2-2 pitch from reliever Jamie Walker (0-2) over the left-center fence for his eighth homer of the season.

Devil Rays 8, Orioles 7

BALTIMORE – Julio Lugo led off the 11th inning with his fourth hit and scored on a pinch-hit single by Fred McGriff, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays past the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 on Friday night.

Tino Martinez hit a three-run homer for the Devil Rays.

, who blew a five-run lead before rallying to force extra innings. Tampa Bay has won three straight and 11 of 15.

Melvin Mora hit his first career grand slam for the Orioles, who have lost four straight. Baltimore received 12 walks, including three apiece by Mora and Miguel Tejada, but stranded 12.

The game was played in a steady shower that was heavy at times, but plate umpire Lazaro Diaz never called for the tarp.

Lugo opened the 11th with a grounder to short off Mike DeJean (0-5) that was ruled a single when Tejada fell on the muddy infield. Lugo stole second on a pitchout and took third on a wild pitch before McGriff singled past the drawn-up infield.

Lance Carter (2-2) pitched three hitless innings, and Danys Baez worked the 11th for his 11th save.

Rafael Palmeiro, who earlier stranded seven runners, hit a sacrifice fly to put Baltimore up 7-6 in the eighth. But the Devil Rays pulled even against Jorge Julio in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs before Cruz drove in a run with a grounder.

Down 5-0, the Orioles fought back against Victor Zambrano in the third. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Mora, who hit the first pitch over the center-field wall. It was his team-high 11th home run; he hit 15 all last season.

Baltimore went up 6-5 in the fourth. Brian Roberts hit a sacrifice fly and Zambrano walked Tejada with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run.

Zambrano allowed six runs, four hits and six walks in 3 2-3 innings.

Tampa Bay got an unearned run in the first when Aubrey Huff hit an RBI single after Mora made his team-high 14th error at third base.

The Devil Rays made it 5-0 in the third. After Huff drove in a run with a grounder, Martinez lined an 0-2 pitch high off the right-field foul pole.

Baltimore starter Erik Bedard finished the inning, but he was done for the night following a shaky 87-pitch effort in which he allowed four earned runs, five hits and two walks.

After Rick Bauer provided three innings of one-hit relief, B.J. Ryan yielded a game-tying RBI single to Cruz in the seventh.

Notes: Martinez has eight homers in his last 14 road games. … The Orioles have 28 homers in their last 21 games. … Bauer was recalled from Triple-A Ottawa on Friday; RHP Darwin Cubillan was designated for assignment.

AP-ES-06-05-04 0005EDT