Struggling ace CC Sabathia pitched effectively into the eighth inning before Mariano Rivera earned his first four-out save in more than two years, helping the New York Yankees hold off the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.

Robinson Cano homered for the Yankees, trying to chase down a playoff berth with a late-season charge. Brett Gardner hit a two-run triple and Lyle Overbay an RBI double in a four-run fourth against Erik Johnson (0-1), who was making his major league debut.

New York, which entered 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card, has won 15 of 18 home games and 17 of 24 overall. Swept in three games at Chicago from Aug. 5-7, the Yankees returned the favor a month later.

Next up for New York, an 11-game gauntlet against division rivals Boston and Baltimore -- beginning Thursday night with a four-game set against the first-place Red Sox.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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