Baltimore ? Bartolo Colon stood on the mound, one out away from pitching a complete game. He wanted to finish what he started, but was too tired to mount a convincing argument.

Besides, his main objective was to get another victory for the Los Angeles Angels, and in that regard, the night was a resounding success.

Colon allowed five hits in 82â3 innings to earn his American League-leading 17th victory, and the Angels used a three-run fifth to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1, Wednesday night.

Colon (17-6) improved to 6-0 in his last seven starts since July 16 and moved closer to becoming the Angels’ first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan in 1974.

“I can’t recall where I’ve had a stretch like I’m having right now,” Colon said through an interpreter.

After Rafael Palmeiro hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia summoned Francisco Rodriguez, who retired Javy Lopez for his 30th save.

“Anytime you get that close to completing the game, you want to complete the game,” Colon said. “Mike came over and asked me, ‘How do you feel?’ I was a little fatigued. He said he didn’t want to take any chances.”

Colon threw 104 pitches, not an alarming number, but enough to get Scioscia to take notice.

“Even though the pitch count was down, it was a little steamy out there, and he was working hard to get where he was,” the manager said. “He said he felt he was getting a little tired.”

Rodriguez, who needed only four pitches to seal the win, credited Colon for putting him in position for the easy save.

“He was awesome. He is one of the greatest pitchers,” Rodriguez said, “and I’m happy for the way he performed tonight.”

Bengie Molina had two hits and drove in a run for the Angels, who had all the offense they needed in the fifth inning against Erik Bedard (6-5).

It was their fifth straight road win, tying their season high.

Melvin Mora’s ninth-inning double was the only extra-base hit for Baltimore, which has lost five straight. The Orioles have been held to one run in three of their last four games.

Los Angeles' Bartolo Colon delivers against Baltimore. Colon earned his 17th victory in the Angels' 3-1 triumph over the Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore.

Palmeiro returned after missing five games because of a sprained right ankle. He went 0-for-3 with the sacrifice fly.

White Sox 6, Twins 4

Minneapolis – Carl Everett homered and drove in four runs, Mark Buehrle scattered six hits over eight innings, and Chicago beat Minnesota to snap a four-game losing streak to the Twins. Buehrle (14-6), benefiting from four double plays, gave up one run and struck out six without allowing a walk to end a personal five-game losing streak against Minnesota.

Blue Jays 9, Yankees 2

New York – Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer off Mike Mussina in a nine-run fifth inning, and Toronto routed New York to snap a five-game losing streak. Russ Adams added a two-run double in the inning, when the Blue Jays scored eight times off Mussina in their biggest inning since a 10-run seventh against Detroit on May 24, 1999.

Devil Rays 13, Indians 3

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Tampa Bay’s Seth McClung won his third straight start, and Travis Lee drove in four runs as the Devil Rays stopped Cleveland’s six-game winning streak. Victor Martinez homered and had two RBIs for the Indians.

Athletics 9, Tigers 2

Detroit – Kirk Saarloos pitched seven scoreless innings and was backed by four home runs as Oakland beat Detroit. Eric Chavez, who missed the previous night’s game to be with his wife and newborn son, singled in his first two appearances, then hit a solo homer off reliever Roman Colon into the left-field stands during Oakland’s four-run fourth inning.

Rangers 8, Mariners 1

Arlington, Texas – Rookie Juan Dominguez pitched two-hit ball over six innings for his second career victory, and Kevin Mench homered to lead Texas past Seattle. Dominguez (1-3) gave up one run and five walks while striking out three.