ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Derek Jeter and Marcus Thames singled in ninth-inning runs Wednesday to rally the New York Yankees to a 7-6 victory over Texas.
The Yankees overcame a five-run deficit and Mariano Rivera bounced back from a loss Tuesday to escape a jam in the bottom of the ninth, allowing New York to split the two-game series.
Texas took a 6-1 lead through five innings and had star pitcher Cliff Lee on the mound, but despite striking out 11 he gave up four runs on eight hits before being taken out after 6 1/3 innings.
Thames hit a solo homer in the eighth off Frank Francisco to bring the Yankees within a run and they took the lead in the ninth against closer Neftali Feliz (3-3).
A walk to Lance Berkman began the inning and Brett Gardner singled Berkman to second before Jeter delivered his RBI single that tied it. After Nick Swisher struck out, Alexi Ogando relieved Feliz and gave up a base hit by Thames that brought in Gardner with the go-ahead run.
Rivera, who gave up the winning score in the 10th inning Tuesday, came on to protect the lead but gave up a leadoff triple to Elvis Andrus. Michael Young then flew out to shallow right and both Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero grounded out to end the game and give Rivera his 24th save.
Kerry Wood (2-4), who held Texas scoreless in a two-inning relief stint, got the win.
