NEW YORK (AP) – Jose Hernandez hit a pair of two-run homers off new Yankees starter Darrell May and drove in five runs Saturday as the Cleveland Indians beat New York 8-7 and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Cleveland, which had dropped 10 of 12 to the Yankees and 11 of 12 to them on the road, ended New York’s six-game winning streak.

The Yankees fell back into third place in the AL East, behind Boston and Baltimore, after passing the Orioles on Friday.

Cleveland’s Scott Elarton followed his complete-game victory on Monday over Detroit with a seven-inning effort.

Hideki Matsui brought New York to 7-6 with a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Arthur Rhodes, but Travis Hafner’s second RBI double of the game gave Cleveland a two-run lead in the ninth.

Bob Wickman allowed Ruben Sierra’s third homer leading off the ninth, then worked out of a two-on, none-out jam for his 23rd save in 26 chances. He got Alex Rodriguez to ground out to shortstop to end it with runners on first and third.

Hernandez broke out of a slump to provide Cleveland’s offense.

In 37 games since April 21, Hernandez was hitting just .218. He homered twice against Cincinnati on June 24, but entered with only three home runs and 16 RBIs on the year.

Elarton (6-3) gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning to Gary Sheffield and Rodriguez before settling down and winning for the fourth time in five decisions.

He gave up three runs and six hits in matching his second longest outing of the season.

May (0-1) lasted only 4 1-3 innings in his Yankees debut that came a day after he was brought up from Triple-A Columbus and one week following his acquisition from San Diego.

Pitching in place of injured Carl Pavano, May allowed seven runs, eight hits and a season-high three home runs. He was 1-3 with a 5.61 ERA with the Padres working in and out of the bullpen.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, including a three-pitch strikeout of leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore, May fell apart in the second.

Casey Blake led off with an infield single, and Hernandez ripped a 2-1 pitch over the left-field wall to tie it at 2. Jhonny Peralta followed with another shot to left, this time after May fell behind 3-1.

May retired the first two hitters in the third, but Casey Blake doubled just over the outstretched glove of center fielder Melky Cabrera.

Hernandez followed with another drive to left on a 3-1 pitch for his ninth career multihomer game, giving Cleveland a 5-2 lead.

Cleveland added two more runs off May in the fifth when Hafner doubled in Coco Crisp, who had singled, and Hernandez brought home Hafner with a single against Scott Proctor.

New York cut the deficit to 7-3 in its half of the fifth as Ruben Sierra led off with a double and scored on Robinson Cano’s two-out single.

Matsui reached base for the 36th straight game, tops in the majors this season.

Notes: Hernandez drove in a career-best seven runs on April 12, 2001, with Milwaukee. Sheffield tied Cal Ripken Jr. for 33rd place on baseball’s list with his 431st homer. … Yankees 1B Jason Giambi returned to the lineup after leaving Friday night’s game in the sixth inning because of tightness in his left leg. … The Indians recalled INF Brandon Phillips from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned LHP Brian Tallet. Phillips started at second base and went 0-for-4. He filled in for Ronnie Belliard, who was bothered by leg cramps. … The Yankees’ old-timers game was cut to 1 1-3 innings by a brief rain shower. … New York had a sold-out crowd of 54,366, pushing the season total to 2,281,483 for 47 games. In 1996, Joe Torre’s first season as manager, the Yankees drew 2,250,839 for the year.