NEW YORK — Sergio Mitre made it back after undergoing elbow-ligament replacement surgery. Then he was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance.

Finally set to make his first major league start since 2007, he had to wait out a 26-minute rain delay.

"It seemed like it took forever," he said. "I was ready to get out there and pitch."

Mitre eventually made it to the mound, earning his first win in two years as the surging New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles, 6-4, last night for their fifth consecutive victory.

The Yankees (56-37) moved a season-best 19 games over .500 and took a one-game lead in the AL East over Boston, which lost to Texas. New York hasn't been alone in first this late in the season since it won the division in 2006, according to STATS LLC.

"Yeah it feels great that there's nobody in front of us but it doesn't mean anything at this point in the year," shortstop Derek Jeter said.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer and Alex Rodriguez also had a key two-run single for New York, which made the most of just six hits. The Yankees are a major league-best 43-22 since Rodriguez came off the disabled list May 8 following hip surgery.

Mitre, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed four runs, three earned, and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first major league start since Sept. 15, 2007. It was his first win since July 29, 2007, for Florida at San Francisco.

The 28-year-old right-hander is serving as the Yankees' fifth starter with Chien-Ming Wang sidelined by a strained right shoulder.

"I know I can pitch here," Mitre said. "It's just a matter of staying healthy. That's been my biggest problem throughout my career."

Brian Roberts had three hits for Baltimore, which has lost nine straight in the Bronx and fell to 1-13 in road games against the AL East this season. Roberts is batting .433 (13 for 30) in his last seven games.

"Certainly it gets frustrating," said Roberts, whose team has lost four of five since the All-Star break. "We want wins."

The Yankees raced to a 6-2 lead in the fourth. Rodriguez picked up two RBIs with a two-out single off Rich Hill in the third and Cano went deep after Nick Swisher led off the fourth with a walk.

Rangers 4, Red Sox 2: Texas rookie Tommy Hunter (2-1) allowed one run and four hits in six solid innings to beat Josh Beckett and knock visiting Boston out of first place in the AL East. Hank Blalock put Texas ahead to stay with a two-run single in the first.

Tigers 9, Mariners 7: Magglio Ordonez hit a grand slam in a five-run first inning and host Detroit held on. Rookie Rick Porcello (9-6) got the win despite allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Indians 2, Blue Jays 1: Victor Martinez hit a two-run double in the ninth inning and Cliff Lee pitched his second straight complete game as visiting Cleveland snapped a four-game losing streak.

Rays 3, White Sox 2:Carlos Pena's sacrifice fly off Bobby Jenks capped visiting Tampa Bay's two-run ninth. The Rays had the bases loaded with no outs against Jenks (2-3) when Pat Burrell walked to force in Jason Bartlett with the tying run. Pena drove in Evan Longoria with a sacrifice fly to right, making it 3-2.

ANGELS SWEEP ROYALS: Erick Aybar broke open a close second game with a three-run triple in a 10-2 victory, and had seven hits in visiting Los Angeles' doubleheader sweep. Aybar had three hits, three runs and an RBI in an 8-5 win in the opener. Aybar was 7 for 9 in the two games, raising his average this month to .490.

TWINS 3, ATHLETICS 2: Michael Cuddyer hit a go-ahead triple in the top of the 10th inning off All-Star closer Andrew Bailey (4-3), scoring Joe Mauer, who singled with one out.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dodgers 12, Reds 3: Rafael Furcal hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Matt Kemp added a two-run shot and Los Angeles won its 11th in a row at home. Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was hit on the side of his left hand by a pitch from Homer Bailey leading off the third inning. He went to a hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative. He is listed as day to day.

Nationals 4, Mets 0: John Lannan threw his first career shutout, scattering seven hits for host Washington. Lannan (7-7) did not walk a batter and struck out one, getting 17 groundball outs. He did not give up an extra-base hit and only once allowed a runner to reach second base, when he gave up two singles in the third.

Astros 11, Cardinals 6: Carlos Lee's grand slam was one of host Houston's three homers. The Astros led 5-1 before Lee's shot in the seventh inning.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 5: Miguel Montero singled and scored the tying run in the seventh inning and then hit a two-run homer in the eighth for visiting Arizona.

Braves 8, Giants 1: Martin Prado had three hits and scored three runs, and Brian McCann hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for host Atlanta.

Brewers 2, Pirates 0: Braden Looper allowed four hits over seven innings and Prince Fielder had two two-out RBI singles for visiting Milwaukee.

Marlins 3, Padres 2: Chris Volstad held the host Padres to one run and four singles, with four walks and two strikeouts in seven strong innings.

NOTES

Nationals: Washington left-hander Scott Olsen will have surgery tomorrow to repair the labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

Phillies: Pedro Martinez has taken a "really big step" forward after throwing 64 pitches over four innings in a simulated game. The Phillies' new right-hander faced hitters for the first time in 11 days yesterday and afterwards said he was excited about the outing. The 37-year-old Martinez, who last week signed a one-year, $1 million contract, is on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain.

Blue Jays: Toronto says any trade for ace Roy Halladay needs to be completed by Tuesday. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said yesterday the deadline is necessary to get all agreements in place for what would be a complicated deal. The GM also wants this matter resolved before Halladay makes a scheduled start next Wednesday in Seattle.

Red Sox: All-Star knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is headed to the disabled list. The Boston Red Sox say Wakefield, who turns 43 next week, has a strained lower back. Manager Terry Francona says Wakefield hurt himself throwing on the side Saturday.

Brewers: Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum has been suspended three games and fined an undisclosed sum for yelling at umpires after a 5-3 loss in Cincinnati on Sunday. Sveum was angry at the plate umpire's strike zone.