NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira was hitting .198 on May 8 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Since Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup that night, Teixeira has raised his average to .239, doubled his home run total and increased his RBIs to 29.

"Pitchers are just making a few more mistakes," Teixeira said. "It puts a lot of pressure on them when Alex is in the lineup and, you know, a pitcher is not going to want to get into deep counts and maybe walk me with a guy like A-Rod behind me."

Teixeira homered from both sides of the plate, combining with Rodriguez for back-to-back drives in a six-run first inning against Glen Perkins, and New York beat the Minnesota Twins, 7-6, on a chilly Monday night to complete a four-game sweep.

After stringing together three straight walk-off wins for the first time since 1972, the Yankees overcame a 2-0 first-inning deficit and hung on to extend their winning streak to a season-high six. New York improved to 23-3 at home against the Twins during the regular season since the start of 2002.

"I can't wait to get out of here," Minnesota's Denard Span said. "Not just the stadium, but the whole city."

Andy Pettitte (4-1) won consecutive starts for the first time this year, allowing four runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings, Jose Veras escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh when Carlos Gomez flied out, and Phil Coke got four outs for his first career save, finishing as Mariano Rivera was given a night off.

Teixeira hit a three-run homer batting right-handed in the first inning and, after Minnesota closed to 6-4, had a solo homer hitting against left-hander Luis Ayala in the seventh. The drive into the second deck in right gave Teixeira eight hits and nine RBIs in the series. He is batting .342 since Rodriguez's return.

"He's made a big difference," Teixeira said. "He's doing a great job taking his walks, and if he does get a pitch to hit, he's hammering it."

BLUE JAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2

TORONTO — Alex Rios hit a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning and Toronto completed a four-game sweep of Chicago.

Jim Thome tied it in the top of the eighth with a two-run homer, the 548th of his career, but Toronto rallied against Octavio Dotel (1-1).

Jose Bautista drew a leadoff walk, moved up on a sacrifice and stole third. Rios' triple skipped past a diving Scott Podsednik in center field.

RAYS 13, ATHLETICS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jason Bartlett drove in a career-high five runs and Tampa Bay beat Oakland for a season-best four-game winning streak.

Rookie Jeff Niemann (4-3) allowed four runs and eight hits in eight innings to win for the fourth time in his last five decisions.

Bartlett went 3 for 3 with a walk to raise his batting average to .384.

ANGELS 10, MARINERS 6

SEATTLE — Torii Hunter hit a three-run double in a five-run fifth inning and Kendry Morales homered twice, rallying John Lackey and Los Angeles over Seattle.

Lackey (1-0) allowed five runs in five innings.

He won his first game since Sept. 21 and ended the Angels' three-game skid.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PIRATES 12, NATIONALS 7

WASHINGTON — Washington made four errors — all on routine plays — and the bullpen had another lead-blowing implosion in a loss to Pittsburgh.

A five-run sixth inning led Pittsburgh to its third straight win and ended an eight-game road losing streak.

Ross Ohlendorf (5-3) won despite allowing four extra-base hits in a five-run fifth.

Craig Monroe belted a three-run homer, and Jack Wilson got four hits for the Pirates.

BREWERS 8, CARDINALS 4

ST. LOUIS — Braden Looper carried a two-hitter into the seventh inning and Mat Gamel hit a three-run homer in his first career start as Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep.

Jason Kendall of the Brewers became the eighth full-time catcher to reach 2,000 hits.

Looper (4-2) gave up three hits and three runs —one earned — in six-plus innings.

ROCKIES 5, BRAVES 1

ATLANTA — Colorado's Jason Marquis outdueled Atlanta's Derek Lowe in front of the smallest paid crowd at Turner Field since the stadium opened in 1997.

Marquis (5-3) scattered five hits and allowed one run in eight innings to end a two-start losing streak.

Lowe (5-2) allowed two runs, three hits and one walk in eight innings before 15,364.