PHOENIX – Knuckleballer Steve Sparks allowed one run in seven innings and Juan Brito hit his first major league home run to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Thursday night.

Sparks allowed only three hits, including Alex Rodriguez’s 456-foot home run, and walked seven. The Diamondbacks used strong defense to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

New York had a four-game winning streak snapped in losing for just the fourth time in 22 games .

Reds 4, Rangers 3

CINCINNATI – Junior is reluctantly taking his quest for No. 500 back on the road.

Ken Griffey Jr. failed to get his milestone homer Thursday, but the Cincinnati Reds pulled off another late rally for a 4-3 victory and three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.

Sean Casey had a pair of hits and a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh, a consolation prize for a capacity crowd that saw Griffey go 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

Giants 8, Blue Jays 5

SAN FRANCISCO – Michael Tucker hit a tiebreaking triple in the eighth inning Thursday and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game sweep with an 8-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The winning rally was set up when pinch-hitter Barry Bonds was intentionally walked leading off the eighth. Ray Durham beat out a bunt single, and both scored on Tucker’s drive to center off Justin Speier (1-4).

Pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski added an RBI single, making it 8-5.

Mariners 6, Brewers 3

MILWAUKEE – Scott Spiezio hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the eighth inning Thursday, sending the Seattle Mariners to a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jolbert Cabrera homered and drove in three runs, and Randy Winn also connected for the Mariners.

Spiezio hit a 2-0 pitch from Matt Kinney (3-4) into the right-field stands for his seventh homer of the year, snapping an 0-for-10 slump.

Royals 10, Braves 4

ATLANTA – Darrell May beat his former team for the first time and Desi Relaford went 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Kansas City Royals past the Atlanta Braves 10-4 Thursday.

The Royals improved their AL-worst road record to 9-21 with their second victory in a row.

Relaford homered for the first time this season, Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with a home run.

John Thomson (5-5) gave up six runs on eight hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Pirates 5, Angels 2

PITTSBURGH – Tike Redman and Jack Wilson homered in Pittsburgh’s go-ahead seventh inning, and the Pirates beat the Anaheim Angels 5-2 on Thursday night for Kris Benson’s first home victory in more than a year.

Redman began the game in a 4-for-28 slump, but hit two homers during a 3-for-4 night. He added a two-run drive in the eighth against reliever Kevin Gregg.

Twins 6, Expos 4

MONTREAL – Matthew LeCroy hit his third pinch-hit homer in three at-bats this season, and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Montreal Expos 6-4 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.

Torii Hunter’s RBI double in the eighth inning put Minnesota ahead to stay, sending the Expos to their sixth consecutive loss.

Jose Vidro homered and singled for Montreal.

Joe Nathan got five outs for his 18th save in 19 opportunities.

Cubs 5, Astros 4

HOUSTON – Glendon Rusch pitched eight strong innings, Moises Alou drove in three runs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 5-4 on Thursday night for their sixth straight win.

Corey Patterson had two doubles and a triple, and Derrek Lee drove two runs.

Rusch (4-1) allowed only two runs on four hits and struck out seven.

Roy Oswalt (4-6) allowed four runs on 11 hits and two walks in seven innings for the Astros.

Cardinals 5, Athletics 4

ST. LOUIS – Pinch-hitter Reggie Sanders capped a three-run, ninth-inning rally with a game-winning single that gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics and a sweep of a three-game series between division leaders Thursday night.

St. Louis also ruined a strong effort by Tim Hudson, who rescued a short-handed Oakland bullpen with 7 1-3 strong innings.

Mets 6, Indians 2

NEW YORK – Mike Cameron hit his first home run since May 10, and five pitchers combined on a five-hitter to lead the New York Mets to a 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Omar Vizquel ruined the shutout bid with an RBI groundout in the ninth off Looper, and Travis Hafner added an RBI double.

Elarton made his second start for the Indians after being released by Colorado.

Marlins 2, White Sox 1

MIAMI – Pinch-hitter Matt Treanor singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Florida Marlins beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 Thursday night after losing Josh Beckett to another injury.

Luis Castillo led off the 11th with a walk, stole second and went to third on Mike Lowell’s fly ball to center.