Minneapolis ? Eddie Guardado and the Minnesota Twins saw Ramon Hernandez’s ninth-inning liner sinking toward the turf and a much-needed win over the Oakland Athletics slipping away.

Torii Hunter just saw another chance make to the highlight reels.

Hunter took a tying hit away from Hernandez with a game-ending grab in center field to preserve the Twins’ 3-2 victory over Barry Zito and the A’s Friday night.

“Nobody else in this league would make that catch,” said Guardado, who allowed an RBI double to Eric Chavez in the ninth before holding on for his 21st save.

Though Hunter went 0-for-2 with two walks, his catch — and the Twins’ second straight victory — made for a happy 28th birthday.

With his cap next to him on the carpet, Hunter popped to his feet and pumped his fist as the crowd of 21,852 celebrated just the eighth win by Minnesota in 30 games.

“Painfully, it ranks No. 1,” Hunter said of his latest Gold Glove-caliber catch. “I said, ‘Forget it, let me get it.’ My buttons and my jersey are melting. I’ve got to get a new one.”

Quipped manager Ron Gardenhire: “All he told me was, ‘How do you burn your lip on the Astroturf?’ That was worth a hug.”

Chris Gomez hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, and Johan Santana took a shutout into the eighth for the Twins, who beat the A’s for the sixth time in seven games this year.

Twins reliever Eddie Guardado celebrates a catch by Torii Hunter on a ball hit by Oakland's Ramon Hernandez for the final out. The Twins defeated the Athletics, 3-2, Friday night in Minneapolis.

“It’s a shame,” Oakland manager Ken Macha said. “It was a great effort by Zito.”

And by Santana, too, who allowed one run, four hits and a walk in 71/3 innings. He struck out seven in his fifth start of the season — his second since replacing Joe Mays in the rotation.

LaTroy Hawkins (6-2) pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief for the win after blowing his fifth save in five chances in the eighth.

White Sox 7, Tigers 5

Chicago — Mark Buehrle won his sixth straight decision and Paul Konerko had a homer and two RBIs as Chicago held off Detroit. Buehrle (8-10) has won six of seven starts after losing nine straight decisions. He gave up 10 hits and four runs, one earned, while striking out five and walking one in 62/3 innings.

Konerko, a 2002 All-Star who has been in a year-long slump, went 2-for-4, raising his average from .198 to .203. Over his last six games, he is 9-for-22.

The White Sox jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Detroit starter Matt Roney (1-4), who gave up nine hits in five innings.

Carlos Lee hit a sacrifice fly in the third to open the scoring, and Chicago scored two more that inning on RBI singles by Magglio Ordonez and Konerko.

A sacrifice fly by Roberto Alomar in the fourth made it 4-0, and Konerko hit his sixth homer an inning later — a solo shot on a 3-2 pitch.

Detroit, which lost for just the second time in eight games against Chicago, didn’t go quietly. Craig Monroe and Shane Halter both singled to start the seventh, and after Carlos Pena grounded out, Monroe scored on Jose Valentin’s error.

Halter scored on Matt Walbeck’s groundout, and one batter later, Alex Sanchez hit a two-run double to chase Buehrle.

In the bottom of the eighth, Lee hit a two-run double to make it 7-4.

After Carlos Pena’s leadoff homer in the ninth off Damaso Marte, Tom Gordon came on and recorded three outs for his fourth save.

Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 1

Boston — Kelvim Escobar gave Toronto its second straight strong pitching performance against the best-hitting team in the majors as the Blue Jays beat Boston. Mike Bordick homered and Escobar (6-6) allowed five hits in seven innings to break a five-start winless streak as Toronto, 3-12 heading into the All-Star break, improved to 2-0 afterward.

Orioles 6, Angels 5

Baltimore — Tony Batista ended his longest slump of the season with a grand slam in the first inning, then hit the tiebreaking homer in the eighth to lead Baltimore past Anaheim. Batista was 0-for-14 over a four-game span before his sixth career slam put the Orioles up 5-0.

Yankees 10, Indians 4

New York — Armando Benitez made a successful debut in pinstripes. The former Mets closer pitched two innings and held a four-run lead to help preserve Roger Clemens’ 302nd win as New York beat Cleveland. Jason Giambi homered twice, Ruben Sierra also connected and Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run double for New York, which rallied against Cleveland for the second straight night and opened a four-game lead over second-place Boston.

Devil Rays 2, Rangers 0

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Jeremi Gonzalez allowed five hits over eight sharp innings and Rocco Baldelli had a pair of RBI singles as Tampa Bay beat Texas. Gonzalez (4-4) struck out six and walked one for his first victory since June 17. All-Star closer Lance Carter worked a two-hit ninth for his 16th save in 22 opportunities, finishing Tampa Bay’s third shutout.

Late Thursday game

Tigers 10, White Sox 9

Chicago — Dmitri Young homered and drove in three runs, and Detroit battered Bartolo Colon in a game delayed more than three hours by rain.