NEW YORK — Jason Bartlett hit his latest leadoff homer in New York to begin a beating of the banged-up Yankees, and the streaking Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 10-6 victory Wednesday night in the opener of a two-game series between baseball’s top two teams.

Evan Longoria had three hits and two RBIs, sending the AL East leaders to their fifth straight win. Tampa Bay stole six bases against starting pitcher A.J. Burnett — four in a four-run fourth inning — and improved to 29-11, the best record for a big league team after 40 games since Boston had the same mark in 2002.

Trailing 10-2 going into the ninth, New York scored four times with two outs against Andy Sonnanstine.

Royals 8, Indians 4

CLEVELAND — Yuniesky Betancourt hit a three-run double in Kansas City’s five-run ninth inning off Kerry Wood, and the Royals rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians 8-4.

Wood (0-2) tossed his glove into the stands as he walked off the field to a chorus of boos, after allowing four hits and five runs while making only one out in 30 pitches.

Billy Butler tied the score with an RBI double off Cleveland’s closer, who was seeking his first save since Sept. 25. Mitch Maier later drew a bases-loaded walk to put Kansas City ahead, and Betancourt followed with his drive over the head of centerfielder Trevor Crowe.

Angels 3, White Sox 2

CHICAGO — Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and Joe Saunders pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Hunter hit his third home run in three games and Saunders (3-5) allowed just one run and four hits to help the Angels bounce back after losing consecutive games to the Texas Rangers.

Cubs 4, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA — Tom Gorzelanny threw 6 2-3 shutout innings and Starlin Castro and Jeff Baker had RBI singles to lead the Chicago Cubs to their fourth straight win with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

A night after the Phillies struggled against Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke, Gorzelanny kept them off-balance until he was struck by Carlos Ruiz’s line drive in the seventh inning.

Nationals 5, Mets 3

WASHINGTON — Angel Pagan hit an inside-the-park home run and started a triple play, but that wasn’t enough for the New York Mets in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Nationals.

Pagan became the first player in 55 years to take part in both feats in the same game. Despite his achievements, the Mets lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Pagan hit the first inside-the-park home run in Nationals Park history in the fourth inning. An inning later, the center fielder’s shoestring catch led to the Mets’ first triple play since 2002.

Phillies shortstop Ted Kazanski was the last player to do both, on Sept. 25, 1955, for Philadelphia against the New York Giants, the Elias Sports Bureau said. That was also the last time a team pulled a triple play and hit an inside-the-parker in the same game, Elias said.

Pagan’s homer came in Washington’s third season at its ballpark. His second career inside-the-parker came on a drive off the center-field wall. Nyjer Morgan couldn’t make a leaping grab and Pagan scampered around the bases, sliding home safely ahead of a relay by shortstop Ian Desmond.

Pirates 6, Brewers 4

PITTSBURGH — Ryan Doumit drove in the go-ahead run and Steve Pearce added his third hit during Pittsburgh’s three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates ran the Milwaukee Brewers’ losing streak to nine with a 6-4 victory.

The Brewers, stuck in their longest slide since losing 10 straight late in the 2006 season, couldn’t blame this one on Trevor Hoffman. He’s sitting out the two-game series as he sorts out his season-long struggles that include losing a ninth-inning lead Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Astros 7, Rockies 3.

HOUSTON — Cory Sullivan hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, Jeff Keppinger drove in a career-high four runs and the Houston Astros snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Sullivan broke a 3-all tie with a two-out single off Esmil Rogers (0-2). Tommy Manzella then reached on Colorado’s second error,

Michael Bourn was intentionally walked to load the bases and Keppinger capped his big night with a three-run double to left.

Cubs 4, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA — Tom Gorzelanny threw 6 2-3 shutout innings and Starlin Castro and Jeff Baker had RBI singles to lead the Cubs to their fourth straight win with a victory over the Phillies.

A night after the Phillies struggled against Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke, Gorzelanny kept them off-balance until he was struck by Carlos Ruiz’s line drive in the seventh inning.

Ruiz’s one-out shot struck Gorzelanny’s left ring finger, then rolled toward first. He retrieved the ball and flipped to Derrek Lee, who scooped it for the out. After a mound conference Gorzelanny left.