NEW YORK (AP) – Mariano Rivera earned his 400th save, escaping two jams and getting six outs to preserve the New York Yankees’ 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer, and Derek Jeter connected for the first time in two months, giving New York an early lead against Freddy Garcia (10-6).

Jaret Wright (6-5) got into the sixth inning and his bullpen held on, sending the Yankees to their first series sweep of the White Sox since May 2002.

Rivera became the fourth major league pitcher to reach 400 saves – and he had to work hard for this one.

With a four-run lead suddenly down to two, New York manager Joe Torre pulled setup man Kyle Farnsworth with two runners on and none out in the eighth. The sellout crowd of 54,781 burst into a huge ovation as Rivera entered.

After seven pitches, the Yankees were out of trouble in the eighth.

Rivera, who saved the All-Star game for the AL on Tuesday night and closed out Chicago on Friday, retired Juan Uribe on a popup before speedy Scott Podsednik grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Chicago’s first two batters reached safely in the ninth, but Rivera induced a double-play grounder from Paul Konerko and struck out Jermaine Dye to end it.

It was Rivera’s 21st save in 23 chances. The other pitchers with 400 saves are Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424).

New York has won seven of eight since a 19-1 drubbing in Cleveland on July 4. The Yankees are a season-high 17 games above .500.

The World Series champion White Sox have dropped five of six to the Red Sox and Yankees during a stretch that spanned the break. Chicago’s stellar starting pitchers are struggling, and its All-Star sluggers failed to deliver in clutch situations all weekend.

The White Sox begin a three-game series at AL Central-leading Detroit on Tuesday.

Tadahito Iguchi matched a career high with four hits, and Podsednik reached safely four times from the leadoff spot for Chicago.

Due to injuries, the Yankees started a makeshift outfield of Melky Cabrera, Bubba Crosby and Aaron Guiel – not exactly Mantle, Maris and Elston Howard.

But the plug-ins came through. Cabrera doubled, scored and threw out a runner at the plate to thwart a rally. Crosby hit an RBI double, and Guiel cut down a runner at second base from right field.

A sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Brian Anderson against Ron Villone cut Chicago’s deficit to 6-3 in the sixth, and Uribe followed with a single to left. But Cabrera made a perfect throw to the plate on the fly, easily nailing Joe Crede to end the inning.

Jeter’s error at shortstop left Chicago with two on and none out in the seventh. But Mike Myers and Farnsworth combined to set down Jim Thome, Konerko and Dye.

A.J. Pierzynski homered into the right-field upper deck against Farnsworth leading off the eighth.

Thome put Chicago ahead with an RBI double in the first, but third baseman Rodriguez started a difficult double play on Dye to end the inning.

The homers by Jeter and Rodriguez (his 20th) in the bottom half put the Yankees in front to stay. It was Jeter’s first in 190 at-bats since May 16.

Notes: Yankees CF Johnny Damon was held out of the lineup because of stiffness in his calf. … Garcia has allowed a team-high 22 homers in 19 starts.

AP-ES-07-16-06 1639EDT