CLEVELAND – Alex Rodriguez kept up his unrelenting surge against the Cleveland Indians – six homers in five games – and New York cruised to an easy victory that gave Mike Mussina his 100th win with the Yankees.

Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers as the hottest team in the majors did everything right. Jason Giambi added a pinch-hit homer and Jose Molina had a career-high four hits.

New York moved 14 games over .500 (65-51) for the first time this season, an emphatic turnaround for a team that was stranded 14 games out of first place on May 29. The Yankees have stormed into contention in the AL East – five games back of Boston – by going 22-8 since the All-Star break, best in the majors.

By contrast, the AL Central-leading Indians are 13-16 since the break.

Rodriguez’s two-run homer capped a seven-run second inning off Paul Byrd (10-5). A-Rod’s 503rd career homer, off Edward Mujica in the eighth, completed his fifth multihomer game this season and the 49th of his career.

It was more than enough for the 38-year-old Mussina (8-7), who became the 16th pitcher to win 100 games for the Yankees. The right-hander won his fourth straight start, allowing two runs in 7 2-3 innings. For the third straight game, he didn’t walk a batter.

Mariners 7, White Sox 6

CHICAGO – Yuniesky Betancourt hit his first career grand slam, Raul Ibanez had a three-run homer and Seattle held on to beat Chicago.

The Mariners have won 10 of 14 after losing a season-high seven straight. They remained one percentage point ahead of the Yankees for the AL wild-card lead.

Josh Fields hit his first career grand slam in the ninth inning on the first pitch from J.J. Putz, but the Seattle closer retired the next three hitters for his 34th save in 36 chances.

Mariners starter Miguel Batista (12-8) took advantage of the early cushion and hung around long enough to earn the victory. He pitched 5 2-3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits.

Ibanez hit his fifth homer in five days and his 11th of the season. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd (1-2) was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in four innings.

Tigers 5, Athletics 2

DETROIT – Magglio Ordonez homered and Justin Verlander won for the first time in four weeks to help Detroit beat Oakland.

Verlander (12-4), who hadn’t won since July 15, gave the Tigers only their second win from a starter in 24 games. He allowed two runs and seven hits with three walks in six-plus innings. Four relievers finished, with Todd Jones pitching a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 36 tries.

Detroit had lost three straight and 12 of 15.

Fellow All-Star Dan Haren (13-4) lost for the first time in six starts, giving up three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. Haren’s last road loss was on April 7, at the Los Angeles Angels.

Marcus Thames also homered for the Tigers and Brandon Inge added an RBI triple.

Royals 4, Blue Jays 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Alex Gordon went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and Leo Nunez combined with two relievers for a four-hitter as Kansas City defeated Toronto.

Gordon, who also tripled and singled, connected off Dustin McGowan (8-6) with Billy Butler aboard in the sixth.

Nunez (2-0), making his third big league start after being used strictly as a reliever the past two seasons, gave up one run and two hits in five innings for his second consecutive win. He matched a career high with four strikeouts and walked three, lowering his ERA to 1.80.

Joakim Soria got four outs for his 13th save in 16 opportunities, but needed help from Joey Gathright to end the game. After Troy Glaus’ double, Aaron Hill drove a pitch to left that Gathright pulled in from above the outfield wall.

Devil Rays 3, Rangers 0

ARLINGTON, Texas – Edwin Jackson pitched a four-hitter for his first career complete game, sending Tampa Bay to a victory over Texas.

Jackson (3-11) struck out eight, walked one and allowed only one runner past second base in Tampa Bay’s first shutout of the season. Delmon Young doubled twice and scored for the Devil Rays, who had been the only major league team without a shutout this year.

Jackson, who started the night with a 6.35 ERA, retired his first 10 batters before Brad Wilkerson doubled. The right-hander threw 79 of his 110 pitches for strikes. Played in 96-degree heat, the game took only 2 hours, 14 minutes.

Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead off John Rheinecker (1-1) on RBI doubles by Young in the first inning and Greg Norton in the second.