Derek Jeter made a spectacular tumbling catch in the seventh inning to protect Chien-Ming Wang’s lead, and Alex Rodriguez had a go-ahead RBI double to lead the Yankees over the Detroit Tigers 4-2 last night.

With runners on first and second with one out in the seventh and the Yankees leading 4-2, Marcus Thames hit fly into shallow center field. Running full speed with his back to the plate, Jeter banged into second baseman Robinson Cano, who was also chasing. Jeter reached over his shorter teammate to make the catch, and the pair fell to the ground, with Jeter landing on top of Cano.

The crowd chanted “Jeter! Jeter!” as he retrieved his cap and serenaded him with a sing-song chorus of “Der-ek Jeter,” when he returned to shortstop.

Back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch near his left hip Tuesday night and leaving for a pinch-runner, Rodriguez struck out with the bases loaded in the third but hit his run-scoring double against Mike Maroth off the wall in left to snap a 1-all tie.

The Yankees, who twice left the bases loaded, won for the 14th time in 16 games, moved a season-high four games over .500 at 25-21 and closed within a half-game of second-place Boston in the AL East. Just two of the wins have come against teams with records above .500 when the games were played.

Wang retired his first nine batters before giving up a leadoff single to Brandon Inge in the fourth inning. Wang (3-1) was removed from his fifth major league start with runners on first and third and one out in the seventh, receiving a warm ovation from the crowd of 51,833. He allowed two runs and five hits.

Mike Stanton relieved and gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Ramon Martinez that pulled Detroit to 4-2, but Tanyon Sturtze, with help from Jeter’s catch, quashed the rally.

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 10th save. He is 10-for-10 since blowing his first two chances of the season – both against the Red Sox, who start a three-game series at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.

New York took the early lead on Gary Sheffield’s RBI single in the first, scoring Jeter. The Yankees loaded the bases in the third inning on Tino Martinez’s leadoff single, Jeter’s double, and – after an out – an intentional walk to Sheffield. But Maroth (4-4) got Hideki Matsui to ground to first baseman Carlos Pena, who threw home for the force. He then struck out Rodriguez looking to end the inning.

The Yankees chased Maroth in the sixth, putting the first four runners on. Sheffield walked, and Matsui had an infield hit before Rodriguez hit his double. Jorge Posada ended Maroth’s night with a two-run single to make it 4-1.

Maroth gave up four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings.

With the win, the Yankees clinched winning their sixth straight series.