Anaheim, Calif. ? The All-Star break is coming at a bad time for the surging Anaheim Angels — and a perfect time for the stumbling Minnesota Twins.

Garret Anderson homered and right fielder Jeff DaVanon threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the seventh inning as the defending World Series champions beat Minnesota, 8-3, Sunday, completing a three-game sweep of the team they defeated in last year’s AL championship series. The Twins lost their eighth straight game.

John Lackey (7-8) allowed three runs and seven hits over six-plus innings, striking out five and walking two. Bengie Molina drove in two runs, helping the Angels win their fifth straight and 12th in 16 games.

“I wish the break wasn’t here because things are starting to roll for us and we’re starting to get hot as a team,” DaVanon said. “Hopefully, it’ll carry over after the break. Baseball is a game of momentum, and when you have it, you don’t want to stop playing. I don’t want to stop.”

The Angels (49-43) are 81/2 games behind first-place Seattle in the AL West. Their .533 winning percentage at the All-Star break is the sixth-lowest among the last 20 teams to win the World Series the previous year.

The only other defending champs with worse records during that stretch were the salary-slashing 1998 Marlins (32-55, .368), the 1994 Blue Jays (38-48, .442), 1989 Dodgers (40-47, .460), 1986 Royals (40-48, .455) and 1983 Cardinals (40-39, .506).

“The World Series comes with a lot of things going your way — a lot of magic happening,” said Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, who was on that riches-to-rags ’89 Dodgers team with Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia and first base coach Alfredo Griffin.

“Sometimes it takes awhile to get back to that level of baseball. The magic hasn’t been there like it was last year, but as of late, we’ve been playing very well.”

White Sox 7, Indians 4

The Anaheim Angels wait to congratulate Garret Anderson after Anderson hit a home run against Minnesota. The Angels defeated the Twins, 8-3, Sunday in Anaheim, Calif.

Cleveland — Tony Graffanino hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as Chicago finished a disappointing first half with a win over Cleveland. Graffanino’s shot off Alex Herrera snapped a 4-4 tie, helped give the White Sox just their second win in seven games and handed Rafael Betancourt (0-1) a loss in his major league debut.

Chicago is 45-49 entering the All-Star break. Magglio Ordonez, one of Chicago’s three All-Stars, added a three-run homer.

Damaso Marte (4-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Tom Gordon allowed consecutive singles to start the ninth before finishing for his third save. Jody Gerut homered for the Indians, who go into the break at 41-53 — one game worse than they were after 94 games last season.

Athletics 1, Orioles 0

Oakland, Calif. — Mark Ellis scored on a grounder back to the pitcher with one out in the ninth inning, giving Oakland a win over Baltimore. After Terrence Long flew out, Ellis hit a fly off Hector Carrasco (0-2) that appeared to bounce in and out of Melvin Mora’s glove as he hit the left-field fence for a triple. With runners on first and third, Ramon Hernandez hit a grounder to Carrasco, who turned and threw to second without looking at Ellis.

Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

Detroit — Wilfredo Ledezma pitched seven impressive innings and Dmitri Young homered as Detroit snapped Boston’s five-game winning streak. Acquired from the Red Sox in the winter meeting draft last December, Ledezma (3-2) scattered six hits, struck out two and walked none.

Mariners 13, Devil Rays 2

Seattle — Rookie Willie Bloomquist had his biggest day in the majors, hitting a grand slam for his first career homer and driving in six runs as Seattle beat Tampa Bay. Joel Pineiro (11-5) won his sixth straight start, throwing seven strong innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk, improving to 7-1 over his last nine starts.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 2

Toronto — Jeff Weaver scattered four hits over eight innings and Jason Giambi homered in his third straight game as New York beat Toronto. Weaver (5-7) allowed just one run, while striking out seven and walking none for just his second win in his last nine starts. Carlos Delgado had two RBIs for the Blue Jays, giving him 97 at the All-Star break.