"The Yankees are running away with the AL wild-card pass - should they need it.

Robinson Cano broke a tie with a grand slam in the seventh, and the Yankees took

the rubber game of their series with the Angels, 6-5, Thursday at Yankee Stadium, thereby opening an eight-game lead over them for the wild card.

The Yankees (71-45) also pulled to a game back of Boston in the AL East.

All the runs in the decisive inning were unearned because Maicer Izturis botched an easy bouncer to second with two outs, leaving the bases loaded for Cano, who made it 6-2. His homer off lefty Scotty Downs smacked off the facing of the second deck in right, his 20th of the season and fifth career slam.

Mariano Rivera gave up a three-run homer to Russell Branyan in the ninth, making it close. But Rivera ultimately nailed down the save.

Rafael Soriano (2-1) earned the victory, working a one-hit seventh. Bartolo Colon turned in a strong start, allowing just two runs and five hits over six. The runs came in the fifth, when Alberto Callaspo hit a ball to the second deck in right."