Minneapolis ? The Anaheim Angels know that getting back to the postseason and defending their World Series title this season is a longshot. But they’re sure they’ll have an impact on the playoff race.

Scott Spiezio hit a grand slam and John Lackey (9-13) pitched seven solid innings as the Angels beat the Twins, 10-2, Monday. Bengie Molina and Garret Anderson also homered for the Angels, who won their third in a row.

“We’re just trying to get back to .500 and finish on a positive note,” Lackey said.

Michael Ryan hit his first major league homer for the Twins, who fell two games behind idle Chicago in the AL Central and lost an opener for the first time in 10 series.

And it was Spiezio and Lackey, two standouts in Anaheim’s AL championship series win over Minnesota last year, keying the win in the Angels’ first appearance at the Metrodome since Game 2 of the ALCS.

Anaheim won both games during the weekend in a rain-abbreviated series with Kansas City, which is also two games back of the White Sox.

“We’re looking in-house to see what we can do,” manager Mike Scioscia said of being playoff spoilers. “A lot of people are out of the lineup. We’re looking ahead. We’re not looking outside the organization.”

Spiezio, who batted .353 for the Angels in the ALCS last year, hit his fifth career grand slam off Kenny Rogers in the third inning.

“Usually when I hit home runs right-handed, they come late in the season and in bunches,” Spiezio said.

Anaheim's Scott Spiezio, right, is greeted by teammates, from left, Bengie Molina, Wilson Delgado and Tim Salmon after hitting a grand slam. The Angels defeated the Twins, 10-2, Monday in Minneapolis.

Lackey — who beat the Twins in Game 4 of the ALCS — yielded two runs on five hits and three walks, and struck out four. Rogers (11-7) allowed six hits in seven-plus innings and struck out four. His wildness cost him in the third.

Wilson Delgado reached base despite striking out, when Rogers’ pitch bounced past catcher A.J. Pierzynski for a wild pitch. Chone Figgins followed with a walk, and two outs later, Rogers walked Tim Salmon.

Spiezio followed by hitting the first pitch into the left-field seats for his 15th homer.

“My job is to minimize the damage and keep us in the game,” Rogers said. “I gave it away on one pitch.”

Molina put Anaheim up 1-0 in the second with his 14th homer, and Anderson hit his 29th to lead off the eighth to make it 6-2.

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter was ejected by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after Hunter argued a called third strike in the second. Hunter yelled at Cuzzi on his way back to the dugout, then charged after Cuzzi when the umpire ejected him.

Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1

Toronto — Roy Halladay pitched a four-hitter and tied for the AL lead with his 18th victory of the season as Toronto beat New York. Halladay (18-6) allowed one run and tied a season high with 10 strikeouts for his fifth complete game this year. He tied Chicago’s Esteban Loaiza for the league lead in victories, and also tied New York’s Roger Clemens for the league lead in strikeouts with 172. Toronto’s Josh Phelps homered and drove in four.

David Wells (12-6), possibly pitching to keep his spot in the Yankees’ rotation, allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Before the game, manager Joe Torre said it was an important start for Wells.

“He always responds to challenges,” Torre said. “It depends on whether he takes this as a challenge or not.”

Indians 7, Tigers 4

Detroit — Ben Broussard hit a tiebreaking home run — his second of the game — in the eighth inning to lead Cleveland past Detroit. Broussard, who also had a two-run homer in the fifth, had three RBIs, and Travis Hafner hit a solo shot for the Indians. Jody Gerut was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, giving him 25 RBIs in 15 games against Detroit.

The loss was the 102nd for the Tigers, who are trying to avoid breaking the 1962 New York Mets’ modern record of 120 losses.

Jose Santiago (1-1) pitched 22/3 innings of hitless relief for the win. David Riske got three outs for his fifth save in 10 chances.

With the score tied 4-4, Broussard hit a high fly down the right-field line off Jamie Walker (3-3) that barely cleared the fence.