Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs, Johnny Damon also went deep and the Yankees polished off a three-game sweep of the struggling White Sox with an 8-3 victory Sunday.
Alfredo Aceves (9-1) provided stellar relief pitching after Joba Chamberlain’s abbreviated outing, and the streaking Yankees won for the 20th time in 26 games.
Derek Jeter scored three times for the AL East leaders, who boosted baseball’s best record to 82-48. They are 31-11 since the All-Star break, also the top mark in the majors.
Teixeira is making a push for AL MVP honors. The switch-hitting slugger, in his first season with the Yankees after signing a $180 million, eight-year contract, has 32 homers and 101 RBIs.
He has reached 30 home runs and 100 RBIs for six straight seasons, joining St. Louis star Albert Pujols as the only major leaguers to accomplish the feat.
Damon’s two-run shot off Freddy Garcia (0-2) gave New York a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
The Yankees broke it open against Chicago’s bullpen in the seventh, highlighted by Melky Cabrera’s RBI double off the left-field fence and Teixeira’s high drive that cleared the short porch in right.
Phil Hughes retired Jayson Nix with two on to end the top of the seventh, preserving a one-run lead.
With the Yankees determined to limit Chamberlain’s innings this season, the 23-year-old right-hander was pulled after throwing only 35 pitches in three innings.
Aceves followed with three scoreless innings of two-hit ball to earn the victory. The versatile right-hander has nine wins out of the bullpen, most among big league relievers.
Jermaine Dye homered in the ninth and Scott Podsednik had three hits for Chicago, which has dropped seven of eight.
The White Sox lost 10-0 on Saturday, when they made three errors and managed one hit against Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin.
After that one, manager Ozzie Guillen said everyone in his clubhouse “should be embarrassed.” He mixed in a few expletives, but never shouted.
Before the series finale, Guillen offered similar comments.
“As a group, we all stink right now,” he said, adding that the only two members of the White Sox currently earning their paychecks are the trainers.
Jeter singled with two outs in the third and Damon drove the next pitch deep into the second deck in right. It was Damon’s 24th home run, matching the career high he set in 2006 with the Yankees.
Damon came out in the seventh with cramping in both calves. He was pulled for pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston Jr., who delivered a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
Teixeira also had a sacrifice fly, in the first.
Podsednik opened the sixth with an infield single, a comebacker that appeared to hit Aceves on the back of his left arm as he whirled around to knock it down.
The right-hander was checked by manager Joe Girardi and assistant athletic trainer Steve Donohue before throwing one practice pitch and remaining in the game.
The next batter, Gordon Beckham, grounded into a double play and Aceves finished the inning.
It was the second time in two days a Yankees pitcher was hit by a batted ball. No. 5 starter Sergio Mitre was struck on the right forearm by a line drive Saturday and it’s uncertain if he’ll be able to take his next turn in the rotation.