ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Aubrey Huff and Robert Fick drove in two runs each Monday night, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 9-7 victory over the New York Yankees.

Huff’s two-run double was the big blow in a five-run first for the Devil Rays, who beat the Yankees in the series opener after losing four in a row to New York before the All-Star break.

Geoff Blum’s RBI single off Tanyon Sturtze (3-2) snapped a 5-5 tie in the sixth. Fick then hit a routine fly ball that dropped for a two-run double after outfielders Kenny Lofton and Hideki Matsui pulled off the ball – each apparently thinking the other was going to make the catch.

The hit gave the Devil Rays’ bullpen a three-run lead to protect for Lance Carter (3-2).

Ruben Sierra homered for the third straight game for New York, delivering a two-run, pinch-hit shot off Jesus Colome to trim Tampa Bay’s lead to 8-7 in the eighth. Devil Rays closer Danys Baez struck out Lofton to end the eighth, then worked the ninth for his 19th save in 21 opportunities.

Carl Crawford’s RBI triple off Paul Quantrill made it 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth.

The Devil Rays scored five runs in the first against Yankees rookie Alex Graman, who lasted just one-third of an inning in his second major league start. The Yankees rallied to make it 5-5 with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth off right-hander Rob Bell.

Graman was promoted from Triple-A Columbus last week to fill a spot in the rotation when Mike Mussina went on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow.

The 26-year-old left-hander failed to get out of the third inning in his major league debut at Chicago on April 20, despite the Yankees staking him to a big lead with a seven-run first inning.

Graman lasted six batters this time.

Twins 3, Tigers 1

DETROIT – Pinch-hitter Jose Offerman’s two-run single in the seventh inning led the Minnesota Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Terry Mulholland (2-3) gave up one run on four hits in 6 2-3 innings to lead the Twins to their second win in eight games. The veteran left-hander struck out two and walked one, improving to 2-0 in three starts since moving into the rotation earlier this month.

J.C. Romero, Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan combined on 2 1-3 scoreless innings of relief to complete the four-hitter. Nathan got three outs – including Rondell White on a groundout with runners on second and third and two outs – for his 24th save in 25 chances.

Orioles 7, Royals 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sidney Ponson gave up two runs in six innings to end his nine-game losing streak, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 Monday night.

Javy Lopez had three hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, and Miguel Tejada hit his 16th homer, a two-run shot in the fourth.

Ponson (4-12) worked out of trouble in each of the first five innings to win for the first time since May 16 against Anaheim. The Orioles opening day starter had a 6.29 ERA entering Monday’s game.

White Sox 12, Rangers 6

ARLINGTON, Texas – Carl Everett homered to help Chicago beat the Texas Rangers 12-6 Monday night, a day after he rejoined the White Sox in a trade.

Everett played designated hitter and went 2-for-5 with a walk and a solo homer in the fourth. He played the final 73 games of last season for Chicago after starting 2003 with the Rangers. He began this season with Montreal before he was traded for minor league pitchers Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski.

Mark Teixeira homered in his fifth straight game, hitting a solo shot in the ninth to tie a club record and Hank Blalock also homered in the ninth for Texas.

, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Carlos Lee homered and drove in three runs for the White Sox, who had lost eight of 13 and three of four to start their eight-game road trip.

Chicago’s Aaron Rowand tied a career high with four hits and Jose Valentin had three RBIs for Chicago.

White Sox starter Scott Schoeneweis (6-7) had a 7-0 lead following three innings after getting a total of one run in support in previous four starts. He snapped a five-start losing streak, holding the Rangers to four runs on five hits over 5 1-3 innings. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the first against Joaquin Benoit (3-5), who was coming off nine days’ rest. Benoit allowed seven runs on seven hits and four walks over 2 1-3 innings.

Valentin scored from second for Chicago’s first run, going to third on Benoit’s wild pitch and scoring on catcher Rod Barajas’s throwing error. Lee added a solo homer.

Sandy Alomar Jr. hit an RBI single in the second. The White Sox loaded the bases in the third, then Benoit hit Joe Crede and walked Alomar to extend Chicago’s lead to 5-0.

Gary Matthews Jr.’s solo homer in the third was the Rangers’ first hit, cutting the deficit to 7-1, but Everett’s homer in the fourth made it 8-1.

Alfonso Soriano hit an RBI double in the sixth to chase Schoeneweis.

Notes: Everett and Alex Rodriguez each homered in five straight games last season for Texas. … Rowand had his fourth career four-hit game. … Rangers OF Brian Jordan is close to returning from the 15-day DL. Jordan is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma. He’s spent two stints on the DL this season while recovering from off-season knee surgery.

AP-ES-07-19-04 2333EDT