Donaldson's Homer Leads Athletics over Yankees, 5-4

Josh Donaldson hit Oakland's third home run of the game, a tie-breaking drive off Boone Logan in the eighth inning that lifted the Athletics over the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday.

Luke Montz and Yoenis Cespedes homered as Oakland took a 4-1 lead against Andy Pettitte, who struggled for the second straight start, but the Yankees rallied in the sixth against reliever Jerry Blevins.

Preston Claiborne, a 25-year-old right-hander, followed Pettitte and retired six straight batters in his major league debut. But Donaldson homered into the left-field second deck with one out in the eighth against Logan (2-2).

Sean Doolittle (2-0) pitched a perfect seventh, and Ryan Cook got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth by striking out Jayson Nix and retiring Lyle Overbay on a flyout to deep center.

Grant Balfour allowed a two-out single in the ninth to Brett Gardner, then threw a wild pitch. Robinson Cano was intentionally walked and Balfour struck out Vernon Wells for his fifth save. Balfour has converted 23 consecutive save chances dating to May 5 last year.

Oakland has won seven of its last 10 games against the Yankees.

New York, missing five regular starters who are on the disabled list, lost for just the third time on its 10-game homestand.

Eduardo Nunez, the Yankees' starting shortstop while Derek Jeter has been on the DL, left after four innings because of tightness in his left ribcage and was sent for an MRI.

Pitching on five days' rest, Pettitte walked four and went to seven three-ball counts. He allowed four runs — three earned — and four hits in five innings. He had not allowed a home run at Yankee Stadium since May 23 last year.

A's starter Dan Straily gave up three runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings. He left with a 4-1 lead, and the bullpen let two of his runner score.

Oakland went ahead in the third when Cespedes hit a grounder with two on. Cano threw wildly from second to first as he tried to complete a double play, allowing Jed Lowrie to score on the error.

Cano hit an RBI single in the bottom half. Montz homered leading off the fourth, his second big league homer and first since Sept. 28, 2008, for Washington.

Cespedes homered following Lowrie's one-out walk in the fifth, a drive into the visiting bullpen in left that put Oakland ahead 4-1.

New York tied the score in the sixth, when Straily allowed Cano's leadoff single and a one-out walk to Travis Hafner. A's manager Bob Melvin brought in left-hander Jerry Blevins to face Ichiro Suzuki, 6 for 16 off him coming in, and Suzuki reached out to hook an RBI double to right. Nix struck out, but Overbay fouled off three two-strike pitches and singled softly to center, driving in two runs.

NOTES: Once Nunez left, Nix moved from 3B to SS and newly acquired Chris Nelson took over at third. ... Josh Reddick had been 0 for 33 at new Yankee Stadium before doubling to lead off the ninth. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi may switch Curtis Granderson to LF when he comes off the disabled list and leave Gardner in CF. Asked whether Granderson would remain in center, Girardi responded: "We might toy around with some other things."