DETROIT ? Detroit Tigers rookie Jeremy Bonderman knew it had been awhile since he won a game. He just didn’t have any idea how long it had actually been.

Bonderman (3-13) won for the first time since May 4, ending an 11-start winless streak, as the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 4-2, Wednesday night.

“I don’t keep track of dates and things — I didn’t know it had been since May,” the 20-year-old said. “The way this season has gone for us, it is always nice to get a win.”

Bonderman allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

“He just threw some strikes,” Chicago manager Jerry Manuel said. “We had a shot there in the first inning when we loaded the bases up, but we just couldn’t get the big two-out hit. We’re just not swinging the bats.”

Detroit has won two straight to clinch just their second home series win of the year.

“It took us until July to win one, and now we’ve won two in a row,” Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. “This is a great feeling, and Jeremy deserves most of the credit. His record is not indicative of the way he has pitched this year, that’s for sure. I’m just glad we could finally get him a win.”

Bonderman entered the game with the worst run support in the majors — just 2.32 runs per nine innings. The Tigers have never scored more than five runs when he is in the game.

The White Sox have now lost four of five while playing two of the American League’s worst teams — Tampa Bay and Detroit.

Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman pitches against Chicago. Bonderman ended an 11-start winless streak as the Tigers defeated the White Sox, 4-2, Wednesday night in Detroit.

“Getting beat by those two teams — it hurts you,” Jose Valentin said. “Nothing against them, but if you look at their records, they are the two worst teams in baseball. The way we were playing after we beat teams like Boston and Minnesota, there’s no way we would lose to these two teams.”

Jamie Walker pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings and new closer Chris Mears pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second career save. The rookie picked up his first save Tuesday against the White Sox, and has only allowed one baserunner in seven innings since being called up.

“Right now, performance counts on this team and Chris has the hot hand,” Trammell said. “We’re going to ride that wave as long as it goes.”

Bartolo Colon (6-8) dropped to 0-3 in his last six starts. He allowed four runs on 11 hits and a walk in six innings, striking out four.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first on Carlos Lee’s long homer to left, but the White Sox left the bases loaded when Joe Crede popped out to end the inning.

“Carlos hit a great pitch, so there was nothing I could do about that,” Bonderman said. “I just knew I needed to make a pitch when they loaded the bases and I was able to get the third out.”

Rangers 4, Twins 1

Arlington, Texas — Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Joaquin Benoit pitched seven strong innings as Texas beat Minnesota. Rookie Mark Teixeira also homered for the Rangers, who have won three in a row and 10 of 15.

Rodriguez snapped a 1-all tie in the sixth with his 22nd home run off former Rangers’ pitcher Kenny Rogers after Donnie Sadler drew a leadoff walk. Rodriguez is 8-for-16 with three homers and seven RBIs all-time against Rogers.

Benoit (4-4) allowed a homer to Torii Hunter in the sixth, but otherwise shut down the Twins, who have lost four straight and 11 of their last 16.

Benoit was 1-3 with a 7.13 ERA in his previous five starts, but he allowed one run and four hits in his most effective start of the season. Benoit struck out five and walked three. Ugueth Urbina recorded three outs for his 26th save in 30 chances.

Orioles 7, Mariners 2

Seattle — Tony Batista hit a two-run homer and Rick Helling pitched six strong innings as Baltimore beat Seattle. The Orioles improved to 2-16 at Safeco Field.

Batista sent a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left in the sixth inning, smacking the ball into the back fence of Baltimore’s bullpen for a 4-1 lead.

Helling (6-6) hadn’t faced the Mariners since Oct. 5, 2001, when he threw a complete game for the Texas Rangers but lost 6-2.

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 7

Toronto — David Ortiz hit a go-ahead double in the ninth inning, helping Boston rally past Toronto. Manny Ramirez led off the ninth with a long fly to left-center, and left fielder Shannon Stewart nearly ran into center fielder Vernon Wells, who allowed the ball to tick off his glove for a triple. Ortiz followed with his double off Jeff Tam (0-4).

Down 7-3 in the eighth, the Red Sox batted around to tie it.

Yankees 6, Indians 2

Cleveland — David Wells pitched 72/3 strong innings to lead New York past Cleveland. Wells (11-3) bounced back from one of his worst career outings by taking a shutout into the eighth before allowing two runs.

Wells permitted nine hits, walked none and struck out one while improving to 7-0 on the road. He is also 7-0 following a loss or no-decision this season.

Athletics 6, Devil Rays 3

Oakland, Calif. — David McCarty doubled twice and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning of his Oakland debut, leading the Athletics past Tampa Bay. McCarty, starting in place of Scott Hatteberg at first base, was called up Tuesday from Triple-A Sacramento when outfielder Jermaine Dye went on the 15-day disabled list because of a separated right shoulder.