Hideki Matsui hit a solo homer and Doug Mientkiewicz scored on a wild pitch for New York, which has won 12 of 14.

The Yankees (88-64), a season-high 24 games over .500, closed in on AL East-leading Red Sox (90-63) and opened a 5 1/2-game lead over Detroit (83-70) in the wild-card race. It's the closest New York has been to first place since the Yankees trailed by one game before play on April 20. The Red Sox lost again today, falling 6-1 to Toronto. It was Boston's fourth loss in a row and fifth in its last six games.

"Four months ago, nobody gave us credit. And now we're close to winning the division," Rivera said.

Pettitte (14-8) got the first two outs of the eighth before giving way to rookie Joba Chamberlain, who had never entered in the middle of an inning. Pettitte trotted off the field to a thunderous ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd and doffed his cap as he reached the dugout. Chamberlain struck out Mora, pumping his fist as he walked off the mound.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth, allowing a bloop, one-out double. He retired Kevin Millar on a flyout, loaded the bases with walks to Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez, then threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter Scott Moore.