The Yankees, who stranded a whopping 21 runners, were down to their final out in the ninth when Cano doubled off Huston Street.
Wilson Betemit tied it with an opposite-field single to left-center on an 0-2 pitch, handing Street his fifth blown save in 22 chances.
Long after Joba Chamberlain was lifted, Ryan Sweeney put Oakland ahead 3-2 with an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth. The All-Star closer struck out three straight batters with a runner on second to keep it a one-run game.
The A's stole second base twice in the ninth, taking advantage of Jorge Posada's ailing arm. The 36-year-old catcher missed 32 games this season with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff and has been relegated to part-time duty behind the plate. He is 3-for-37 throwing out base stealers.
Posada was replaced on defense in the 10th by Molina, who wound up with two chances to win it. He grounded out with two on to end the bottom of the 10th, then sent the Yankees home happy in the 12th.
The last time the Yankees won on a game-ending hit by pitch, it was Clete Boyer who was plunked on July 15, 1965, against the Washington Senators.
