Cleveland ? This is the way C.C. Sabathia expects to pitch.

Sabathia struck out 11 in six innings and Ronnie Belliard hit a three-run homer to lead the Cleveland Indians over the Chicago White Sox, 6-3, Friday night.

“I was a different guy out there,” said Sabathia, who was 3-4 with a 6.14 ERA in his previous seven outings since July 22. “I don’t know who that other guy was.”

The Indians staked Sabathia to a 5-0 lead and won for just the second time in 12 games.

“It was great to get those runs, any pitcher likes that,” he said.

The White Sox lost their seventh in nine games and fell one game back of second-place Cleveland in the AL Central.

Sabathia (10-8) tied a career high for strikeouts and won for the first time in three starts. He gave up five hits and two walks and was in command except for a three-run fourth inning by Chicago.

“They just hit some good pitches that inning,” said Sabathia, who admitted that he had been his own worst enemy of late.

“I had been letting my emotions get to me when I was giving up runs,” he said. “Tonight, I just tried to make good pitches and get out of it.”

The 24-year-old left-hander became the first Indians pitcher to win 10 or more games in his first four seasons since Luis Tiant did it for five years, 1964-68.

Rafael Betancourt and Bob Howry each worked a scoreless inning for Cleveland. Bob Wickman allowed two hits in the ninth but earned his seventh save in eight chances.

Jason Grilli (0-1) was called up by the White Sox from Triple-A Charlotte to start in place of Freddy Garcia, who has a strained right forearm.

Athletics 8, Devil Rays 7

Oakland, Calif. — Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run homer, Eric Chavez also connected and Oakland rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Tampa Bay. Marco Scutaro also homered for the A’s, who have won five straight and 10 of 11. They maintained their one-game lead over Anaheim in the AL West. Justin Duchscherer (5-4) pitched five scoreless innings of relief for the win. He allowed four hits with no walks and struck out three. Octavio Dotel recorded four outs for his 15th save in 19 chances with Oakland.

Angels 9, Twins 6

Anaheim, Calif. — Adam Kennedy and Garret Anderson each hit a two-run homer, and Anaheim beat Minnesota for its ninth straight victory. Aaron Sele (8-1) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, improving to 17-4 in his career against the Twins while helping the Angels match their longest winning streak of the season. Anaheim has won 17 of 21 overall to move a season-best 20 games over .500.

Brad Radke (9-7) pitched 52/3 innings, allowing nine runs and 15 hits — both season highs. The right-handerentered 12-5 lifetime against the Angels with a 1.65 ERA, his lowest against any AL opponent.

Yankees 8, Blue Jays 7

Toronto — Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams each homered and New York held on for a victory over Toronto. Esteban Loaiza failed to make it out of the fifth inning in another poor start since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a July 31 trade for Jose Contreras. He was removed after allowing four runs on seven hits in 41/3 innings. Tanyon Sturtze (5-2) pitched 2 1/3 innings for the win. No Yankee starter has posted a win since Jon Lieber beat Seattle on Aug. 13 — 13 games.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

Boston — Manny Ramirez singled and scored before leaving because of a bruised knee, and the streaking Red Sox beat Detroit for their 10th victory in 11 games.

Ricky Gutierrez singled three times and drove in two runs, and Mark Bellhorn had a pair of hits to help the Red Sox win for the 13th time in 16 games and improve to a season-high 21 games over .500. The win was tempered by the loss of Ramirez, who fouled a pitch off his left knee. He was day to day after X-rays were negative.

Derek Lowe (12-10) allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings.

Rangers 6, Orioles 4

Arlington, Texas — John Wasdin pitched six strong innings in his return from the minors, and Texas handed Baltimore its 11th consecutive loss. Eric Young reached base in all four plate appearances, with two walks and two singles. He stole a base, scored Texas’ first run and drove in the last two.

With their 11th win in 14 games, the Rangers remained two games behind Boston in the AL wild-card race. They also beat the Orioles for the first time in 10 tries.

Miguel Tejada went 3-for-5, including his 25th homer.