BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore ended a nine-game losing streak with a 17-9 victory over New York on Tuesday night, keeping the Yankees and Boston Red Sox tied for first place in the AL East.

Jay Gibbons and Javy Lopez homered for the Orioles, offsetting Gary Sheffield's two-homer, six-RBI effort for New York in the game that lasted 4 hours, 16 minutes.

New York's third loss in 16 games, combined with Boston's split of a day-night doubleheader with Toronto, left them tied with five games left, including a three-game series at Fenway Park to close the regular season.

The Red Sox and Yankees are tied at 92-65 with Cleveland in the wild-card standings.

The Yankees trailed 5-1 before Sheffield hit a two-run homer in the third inning. He put New York ahead 7-5 in the fourth with his 11th career grand slam.

Al Leiter (4-5) allowed Baltimore back in front in the fourth and the Orioles scored five runs off three relievers in the fifth to make it 13-7.

Aaron Rakers (1-0) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings to earn his first major league win.

Braves 12, Rockies 3

ATLANTA (AP) - Marcus Giles hit two homers and the Atlanta Braves wrapped up their 14th straight division championship Tuesday night, beating Colorado 12-3. The Braves officially clinched the NL East midway through their game when second-place Philadelphia lost to New York.

Atlanta became the second team to clinch a title, following the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Tim Hudson (14-9) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings.

The Braves took control with a four-run fifth. Jeff Francoeur beat out a bases-loaded dribbler to third, driving in one run and fellow rookies Ryan Langerhans and Brian McCann followed with bases-loaded walks to make it 7-1.

Aaron Cook (6-2) gave up eight hits and six earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.