Chicago ? With his team back in the AL Central race, Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel has become a scoreboard watcher.

When Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay was about to start, he noticed that first-place Kansas City already had taken a big lead over Detroit.

“Anytime they post the score, that puts pressure on us to perform well,” Manuel said. “Our guys stepped it up today.”

Bartolo Colon pitched eight strong innings, and Frank Thomas homered and drove in three runs as the White Sox beat Tampa Bay, 9-1, for their ninth win in 10 games.

Colon (8-9) gave up Rocco Baldelli’s first-inning homer, then retired 18 consecutive batters until Aubrey Huff doubled in the seventh. Colon allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked none.

“He was outstanding. He had life on his fastball, good offspeed pitches when he needed to,” Manuel said. “He pitched extremely well.”

Colon warmed up for the start of the ninth, then was replaced by Kelly Wunsch. Manuel said he wanted to give some work to Wunsch, who was activated Friday from the disabled list.

Aaron Rowand had three hits for the White Sox, hitting a two-run homer. Carlos Lee also homered for Chicago, which trails the Royals by four games heading into a three-game series at Kansas City.

“I think the pieces are starting to come together,” Rowand said. “Guys are hitting the ball all the way up and down the lineup. We got it going right now and, hopefully, we can continue that.”

Joe Kennedy (3-8) gave up six runs — five earned — and eight hits in 41/3 innings, dropping to 0-5 since winning May 13 at Toronto. He missed all of June and early July with inflammation in his left shoulder.

Chicago's Bartolo Colon waves to the crowd while leaving the game in the ninth inning. The White Sox defeated Tampa Bay 9-1 Sunday at Chicago.

Lee tied the game in the second with his 19th homer. Chicago went ahead in the third when Miguel Olivo scored from second when Rowand’s dribbler to third was thrown away by Damian Rolls.

Blue Jays 10, Orioles 1

Toronto — Roy Halladay won his 15th consecutive decision, pitching seven scoreless innings for Toronto.

Halladay (15-2), the first major league pitcher to win 15 straight decisions since Roger Clemens won 16 in a row in 2001, became the big leagues’ first 15-game winner.

Aquilino Lopez finished the three-hitter, allowing a homer to Larry Bigbie.

Carlos Delgado hit his AL-leading 30th home run.

Rodrigo Lopez (3-6) tied a season high by allowing eight runs and eight hits in 32/3 innings.

Red Sox 6, Yankees 4

Boston — Jason Varitek hit a tying three-run homer, and Johnny Damon followed with a go-ahead shot as Boston scored six times in the seventh inning.

Jeff Weaver took a 3-0 lead and a two-hitter into the seventh before he walked Trot Nixon and hit Bill Mueller with one out. Chris Hammond relieved and Varitek homered over the Green Monster. Damon came up next and hooked a shot inside the foul pole in right, putting the Red Sox ahead, 4-3.

Casey Fossum (5-4) allowed one hit, striking out one in one inning of relief of Derek Lowe. Byung-Hyun Kim pitched the ninth for his sixth save as Boston closed within 11/2 games of first-place New York in the AL East.

Indians 3, Twins 2

Cleveland — Tim Laker, who popped out with the bases loaded for the final out of the 10th inning, hit an RBI single off Juan Rincon (2-4) with two outs in the 14th.

Rafael Betancourt (1-1) pitched the 14th for his first major league win.

Minnesota dropped to 7-4 since the break and fell 61/2 games behind first-place Kansas City in the AL Central.

“We can’t afford any losses,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I’m not happy. We battled. We’re supposed to battle. We have to win.”

It was Minnesota’s first loss in 46 games when leading after eight innings.

Athletics 10, Angels 1

Anaheim, Calif. — Tim Hudson (9-4) pitched a four-hitter for his second complete game this season, and Scott Hatteberg went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo homers as Oakland closed within three games of AL West-leading Seattle.

The Mariners have been in sole possession of the division lead since May 16.

Miguel Tejada hit a two-run shot, and Ramon Hernandez also homered for the A’s, who have won four straight and six of seven after taking a four-game losing streak into the All-Star break.

Anaheim dropped to 2-9 since the All-Star break. Ramon Ortiz (12-8) gave up six runs and six hits over 21/3 innings in his shortest outing this season.

Rangers 7, Mariners 3

Seattle — Michael Young had four hits and John Thomson (8-10) allowed three runs, eight hits and five walks in eight innings.

Rafael Palmeiro and Hank Blalock each drove in two runs for the Rangers.

Alex Rodriguez, who turned 28, went 2-for-4 with a triple.

Freddy Garcia (9-10) lost his fourth straight decision, allowing six runs — five earned — and 10 hits in 52/3 innings.

The Mariners are 5-6 since the All-Star break and 10-13 in July.