DETROIT – Tony Womack hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth to break a tie and Bernie Williams followed with three-run homer to lift the New York Yankees to an 8-4 victory Saturday night over the Detroit Tigers.

Williams finished with four hits and five RBIs, matching a season high.

Womack was in the game because he ran for Jason Giambi in the eighth.

Dmitri Young’s three-run homer gave Detroit a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning before the Yankees rallied with two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and four in the ninth off closer Troy Percival (1-2).

Tom Gordon (2-3) entered the game in the seventh for New York, and retired five straight before Carlos Guillen reached on an error and Magglio Ordonez walked. Gordon got out of the eighth unscathed by striking out Ivan Rodriguez, who reacted by whipping his bat toward Detroit’s dugout, hitting Young’s foot in the on-deck circle.

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth.

New York’s Mike Mussina started and finished strong, but was roughed up in the fourth inning. He gave up four runs – all in one inning – on seven hits while striking out five and walking none. He didn’t give up a hit until Craig Monroe hit an infield single with one out in the third inning, then gave up just two hits over his final two innings.

Detroit’s Sean Douglass gave up three runs – one earned – on seven hits and two walks. He struck out six in his second start of the season, replacing Wilfredo Ledezma as the Tigers’ No. 5 starter.

Fernando Rodney relieved Douglass and gave up a run on two hits, getting only two outs.

Alex Rodriguez hit a one-out double off Troy Percival in the ninth. Hideki Matsui then popped out and Jorge Posada was intentionally walked, bringing Womack, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for Jason Giambi, to the plate.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Rodriguez scored on Posada’s fielder’s choice.

Detroit went up 4-1 in the home half on two singles, a double and a home run.

Placido Polanco singled and scored on Ordonez’s double before Young followed with his 13th homer.

Rodriguez led off the sixth with a strikeout, but reached on a passed ball that skipped off the edge of Ivan Rodriguez’s glove, then Matsui walked. Both scored on Bernie Williams’ single.

Gary Sheffield’s double scored Derek Jeter, who reached on an infield single, and tied the game 4-4 in the seventh.

Notes: In another setback for New York’s rotation, Carl Pavano will not start on Sunday because of a sore shoulder… Detroit’s Ivan Rodriguez was presented with his Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards before the game. . … The Yankees acquired pitchers Darrell May and Tim Redding from San Diego for Paul Quantrill, but both are expected to go to Triple-A Columbus … OF Rondell White was out of the lineup for the Tigers with a sore shoulder. … Percival made his 600th appearance.

AP-ES-07-02-05 2219EDT

Copy the Story Link