Jesus Montero hit the first two home runs of his major-league career as the New York Yankees outgunned the visiting Baltimore Orioles 11-10 Monday afternoon.

The wild victory lifted the Yankees 2 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the race for the American League East title. The Red Sox dropped a 1-0, 11-inning decision in Toronto later Monday.

Montero, playing in just his fourth major-league game, put the Yankees ahead 9-8 with a solo blast over the right-field wall in the fifth inning. He repeated the feat with Russell Martin aboard in the seventh, earning a curtain call from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

Robinson Cano had a second-inning grand slam, his third of the campaign, and Mark Teixeira added his 36th homer of the year in the victory.

Aaron Laffey (2-1) earned his first victory in a Yankee uniform. Mariano Rivera allowed a run in the ninth but struck out J.J. Hardy with two men aboard for his 38th save of the season, and the 597th of his career.

Jim Johnson (5-5) absorbed the loss, allowing Montero's go-ahead homer in the fifth.

Nick Markakis, Mark Reynolds and Robert Andino homered in defeat for Baltimore. Every Orioles starter finished with at least one hit.