NEW YORK – Gary Sheffield hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees sent the fading Cleveland Indians to their eighth straight loss, 6-4 Monday night.

The Yankees stopped a slide of their own, winning for only the second time in eight games and snapping a three-game losing streak. But shortstop Derek Jeter came out in the ninth after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch from Bob Wickman.

Jeter winced in pain and let his limp arm dangle by his side before being helped to the dugout by a trainer.

Enrique Wilson pinch ran for Jeter, and Sheffield followed with his 32nd homer, just over the 19-foot high wall in left.

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez moved to shortstop in the bottom of the ninth and Sheffield went from right field to third base, the second time this year the Yankees have used that alignment after Jeter got hurt. The other came in a 13-inning victory over Boston when Jeter hurtled headfirst into the stands to make a clutch catch.

Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his 42nd save in 45 chances.

Tigers 7, White Sox 0

DETROIT – Jeremy Bonderman struck out a career-high 14 and scattered eight hits in his first career shutout, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 7-0 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

Bonderman (7-10) threw his first career complete game to win for the first time since July 7. He was 0-4 in his previous eight starts. The 21-year-old right-hander was 6-19 last year after jumping to the majors following one season at Class A with Oakland’s organization.

Bonderman walked one, and his 14 strikeouts were two shy of the club record – done by Mickey Lolich twice in 1969.

Carlos Guillen backed Bonderman’s outstanding start with a two-run homer for Detroit, which has won five of seven.

Jose Contreras (11-6) lost for the first time since being acquired from the New York Yankees on July 31. He gave up five runs and six hits in five innings, and walked a career-high seven.

Diamondbacks 5, Pirates 4

PITTSBURGH – Alex Cintron’s RBI single with one out in the ninth inning lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 Monday night.

Pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga led off the ninth against reliever John Grabow (2-5) with an infield single. Pinch-runner Jerry Gil moved to second on Quinton McCracken’s sacrifice before Cintron singled up the middle.

Reliever Shane Nance (1-0) got two outs for his first major league victory, and Greg Aquino pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Pittsburgh starter John Van Benschoten hit a two-run homer for his first big league hit, but the Pirates lost their fifth straight.

Expos 8, Dodgers 7

MONTREAL – Giovanni Carrara walked Juan Rivera with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning Monday night, spoiling Los Angeles’ six-run comeback and handing the Montreal Expos an 8-7 victory over the Dodgers.

Trailing 7-1, Los Angeles scored four in the seventh – keyed by Steve Finley’s three-run double off Joey Eischen. In the ninth, Adrian Beltre tied it at 7 with a two-run shot off closer Chad Cordero (4-3) for his 39th homer.

Brian Schneider hit a one-out double off Carrara (1-1) in the bottom half and Brad Wilkerson was intentionally walked. Carrara, who pitched a perfect eighth, struck out Alex Gonzalez before Tony Batista walked to load the bases, just after hitting a long foul on a 3-2 pitch.

Rivera, who looped a 2-1 pitch just foul down the right-field line, worked a full count before Carrara missed low and away allowing Schneider to trot home with the winning run.

Padres 9, Mets 4

NEW YORK – Phil Nevin homered, doubled and drove in five runs and the San Diego Padres built a big lead for Jake Peavy in beating the New York Mets 9-4 Monday night.

Coming off a 2-4 homestand, the Padres opened a 10-game road trip hoping to improve their wild-card position.

San Diego got off to a good start, roughing up newly promoted Aaron Heilman in going ahead 5-0. Mike Cameron rallied the Mets with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, then Nevin broke it open with a three-run shot in the eighth.

Nevin had an adventuresome evening. He hit a two-run double in the first, singled and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and later added his 17th home run.

Twins 7, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas – Johan Santana allowed one run in eight innings to win his seventh straight decision, and the Minnesota Twins padded their lead in the AL Central with a 7-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

Santana (14-6) gave up four hits, struck out 11 and walked one to help the Twins win for the seventh time in eight games, stretching their division lead over Cleveland to eight games.

Santana, who hasn’t lost since July 11, struck out Brian Jordan in the second inning to give him 200 this season – the first Twins pitcher with that many since Bert Blyleven had 215 in 1986. Santana has 10 double-digit strikeout games this year, 13 for his career.

Cubs 8, Brewers 3

CHICAGO – Carlos Zambrano took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and struck out nine to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 Monday night.

Moises Alou went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two doubles for Chicago, which has won five of six. Every starter for the Cubs had at least one hit. They moved less than a percentage point ahead of San Francisco in the NL wild-card standings.

The Brewers have lost a season-high six straight.

Astros 8, Phillies 4

HOUSTON – Roger Clemens won for the first time in almost a month – the 323rd victory of his career – and Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer to lead the Houston Astros over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-4 Monday night.

Clemens (14-8), who left in the fourth inning of his start against the Phillies last week after injuring his right calf, hobbled around on the injured leg throughout much of his impressive seven-inning outing.

But The Rocket fought through the discomfort, allowing only two runs on five hits in his first win in five starts since July 28 against Arizona. He also had eight strikeouts – his most since the win over the Diamondbacks – and two walks. The 42-year-old right-hander trails Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton by one win for 12th on the all-time list.

Clemens even drew a standing ovation when he fielded a comebacker by Jason Michaels and scampered over to first base to tag Michaels for the inning’s final out. The Rocket barreled over Michaels, knocking off the left fielder’s hat and tumbling to the ground as he completed the play.