AL roundup: Kubel's grand slam leads Twins over the Yankees

NEW YORK — Jason Kubel hit a stunning grand slam off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins snapped a nine-game losing streak against the New York Yankees with a 6-3 victory Sunday.

Rivera replaced Joba Chamberlain (1-2) with the bases loaded and a 3-1 lead and walked Jim Thome. Kubel then pulled a drive into the seats in right, startling the crowd of 46,628.

Kubel's third homer of the season and sixth career slam snapped a string of 51 straight converted save opportunities for Rivera at home, tying the major league record set by Eric Gagne with the Dodgers. It was the first grand slam off Rivera since Bill Selby's game-ending shot for Cleveland on July 14, 2002.

Rivera hadn't allowed a run in 11 innings this year. The ace closer issued his fourth career bases-loaded walk and first since May 6, 2005, before allowing his fourth grand slam.

Jon Rauch gave up two singles to start the ninth, then struck out Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira to hold on for his 10th save in 11 chances.

Nick Blackburn (4-1) helped the Twins beat New York for the first time since Aug. 13, 2008. They had lost 12 straight overall against the Yankees, counting the sweep in last year's AL division series.

RAYS 2, MARINERS 1: At St. Petersburg, Sean Rodriguez delivered a seventh-inning double and Gabe Kapler added an eight-inning sacrifice fly as the Tampa Bay Rays overcame a frustrating afternoon against Cliff Lee to rally past the Seattle Mariners. Lee (1-2) took a 1-0 lead into the seventh, limiting the team with baseball's best record to doubles by B.J. Upton and Willy Aybar up to that point. Upton doubled again with one out in the seventh, then scored when Rodriguez followed with his hit off the right-center field wall. Carl Crawford tripled into the left-field corner, just beyond the reach of Michael Saunders, and scored on Kapler's sacrifice fly. Dan Wheeler (2-0) retired the only two batters he faced to get the win. Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 10th save in 10 opportunities.