Rivera gave up a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Russell Branyan on his first pitch in the ninth before getting two outs for his 30th save.
Bobby Abreu connected against Rivera on Tuesday night for the first homer off the All-Star closer at Yankee Stadium since May 16, 2010. Rivera also faltered at Boston on Sunday night.
Curtis Granderson followed his two double-play balls with a tying two-run homer in the sixth for the Yankees.
Fernando Rodney (2-4) gave up two walks in the seventh for the Angels, who lost just their second series in the last 16 (13-2-1).
Derek Jeter had three singles — two infield hits — and a walk to raise his average in day games to .352 (38 for 108). Rafael Soriano (2-1) got the win.
In Cleveland, Justin Verlander gave Detroit exactly what it needed, becoming baseball’s first 17-game winner as the division-leading Tigers avoided being swept by Cleveland and opened a three-game lead over the Indians in the AL Central.
Verlander (17-5) allowed three hits and struck out 10 in seven innings to earn career win No. 100 as the Tigers ended a 13-game losing streak in Cleveland. He was also on the mound for Detroit’s previous win at Progressive Field on May 8, 2010.
In taking the series finale, the Tigers kept some distance over the Indians, who did trim one game off Detroit’s lead over the past three days. The teams will play 10 more times this season, including a season-ending three-game series in Detroit.
Tigers relievers Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde each pitched a scoreless inning. Valverde earned his 33rd straight save this year, breaking the single-season team record set by Willie Hernandez in 1984.
Fausto Carmona (5-12) took the loss.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Jeff Niemann won his sixth consecutive decision, Ben Zobrist had a two-run triple and Tampa Bay completed a four-game sweep.
Niemann (7-4) allowed one run and nine hits over 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 6-0 in nine starts since returning from a strained lower back.
The Rays’ first four-game home sweep since July 28-31, 2005 — also against Kansas City — included an 8-7 win Wednesday night in which Tampa Bay scored five times in the ninth.
Kansas City rookie left-hander Danny Duffy (3-6) gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings.
In Toronto, Conor Jackson drove in three runs and Hideki Matsui had four hits, leading the Athletics to the victory.
Oakland failed to hit a home run for the first time in nine games but still finished with its most runs since scoring 13 against Tampa Bay on July 27.
Matsui had a 15-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday and was hitless in 10 at-bats before hitting an RBI single in the third. He grounded out in the fourth but singled again in the sixth, seventh and ninth to finish 4 for 6. Matsui, who was hitting .209 at the All Star break, has raised his average to .268.
Oakland right-hander Guillermo Moscoso (5-6) allowed two runs, one earned, in six innings.
J.P. Arencibia hit his 19th home run for Toronto, a solo drive to center in the seventh. Brad Mills (1-2) got the loss.
In Baltimore, Mark Buehrle pitched eight solid innings, Alexei Ramirez homered in a four-run first inning, and the Chicago White Sox cruised past the Baltimore Orioles.
Buehrle (10-5) gave up three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked none. The left-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in 18 straight starts, matching the club record set by Frank Smith in 1909, the White Sox said with research by the Elias Sports Bureau.
Buehrle is 4-0 in his last five starts, and his run of 11 straight seasons with at least 10 wins is a franchise record.
Sergio Santos worked a perfect ninth for his 25th save. He set a major league record by starting the season with 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road, breaking the mark set by Mariano Rivera in 2005. He has a 30-game scoreless run on the road over two seasons.
Nick Markakis hit his 100th career home run for the Orioles, who have lost seven of nine. Chris Tillman (3-5) didn’t get an out until his 20th pitch and ended up giving up six runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings.
