Sox halt Tribe’s win streak at five

Garland impressive in Chicago's 4-2 triumph over Cleveland

? Finished for the evening, Jon Garland relaxed in Chicago’s clubhouse and watched Randy Johnson close out his perfect game on TV.

Garland’s performance didn’t have many flaws, either.

He dominated Cleveland hitters for seven strong innings, and the White Sox cooled off the Indians with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night.

Garland (3-2) allowed one run and five hits while snapping Cleveland’s season-high winning streak at five games. The right-hander rarely was in trouble while slowing down the Indians, who had averaged eight runs per game during their streak.

“They’re hot,” Garland said. “They’re probably the best hitting team in baseball right now.”

Not anymore.

Garland, who walked one and struck out six, retired 10 straight before getting into a jam in the sixth. But with one out and runners at first and second, he struck out Victor Martinez.

Then, with runners in scoring position, he fanned Travis Hafner to preserve a 4-1 lead.

“I had a plan and I stuck with it,” Garland said. “I made quality pitches when I had to.”

Paul Konerko hit a two-run single in a four-run fourth off Cleveland’s Chad Durbin (3-4) as the White Sox won for just the fourth time in 11 games.

Damaso Marte gave up a sacrifice fly to Martinez in the eighth, and Billy Koch struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save.

Chicago did very little against Durbin the first time through the order.

The second go-around was much different as the White Sox scored four runs in the fourth against the right-hander, who came in 1-4 with a 9.56 ERA in seven starts against them.

The White Sox loaded the bases with one out before Konerko’s two-run hit put them up 2-1. One out later, Miguel Olivo hit a shot through the middle that struck Durbin in the upper leg and slowly caromed toward right field.

Jose Valentin, who was on second, was alertly waved around and scored on a headfirst slide. Willie Harris followed with an RBI single, giving the White Sox a 4-1 lead and chasing Durbin.

He allowed four runs and six hits in 32/3 innings. But despite the damage, Durbin lowered his ERA from 11.77 to 11.34.

“I was going to go as hard as I could for as long as I could,” Durbin said. “I hit a wall in the fourth. I made some pretty good pitches, but I ran out of gas a little.”

Orioles 7, Mariners 2

Seattle — Rookie Daniel Cabrera won for the second time since he was brought up from the minor leagues last week, leading Baltimore over Seattle. Larry Bigbie homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles, who won for only the fourth time in 23 games at Safeco Field. Seattle has lost eight of nine, dropping to 13-25 and falling 12 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 14, 1998.

Tigers 5, Athletics 1

Oakland, Calif. — Rondell White and Craig Monroe homered, and Jeremy Bonderman pitched seven strong innings to lead Detroit past Oakland. Carlos Guillen hit a two-run triple for the Tigers, who began their nine-game road trip by ending Oakland’s three-game winning streak.

Erubiel Durazo homered for the A’s, but their offense was otherwise punchless only two days after completing a three-game sweep in Kansas City. Oakland had won eight of its last 10 games.

Blue Jays 5, Twins 3

Toronto — Miguel Batista, Jason Frasor and Terry Adams combined on a five-hitter, and the Toronto Blue Jays handed Johan Santana his first loss in 20 starts with a victory over Minnesota. Reed Johnson and Carlos Delgado each had two RBIs for the Blue Jays, and Adams escaped a ninth-inning jam.

Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 3

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Tim Wakefield allowed one run in seven innings, Mark Bellhorn hit a three-run homer and Boston beat Tampa Bay. Wakefield (3-2) gave up only three hits in his first start since his son — Trevor Stephen — was born last Saturday. After allowing Carl Crawford’s leadoff single in the first, the knuckleballer retired 13 straight.

Angels 1, Yankees 0, 11 innings

Anaheim, Calif. — Adam Riggs hit a bases-loaded single over a drawn-in outfield in the 11th inning, giving Anaheim a victory over New York. Riggs, called up from the minors earlier in the day to replace injured third baseman Troy Glaus, lofted an opposite-field fly over the head of Gary Sheffield in right to break the scoreless tie.