Minneapolis ? The Chicago White Sox have the best record in the AL because of games like this.

Timo Perez hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and the White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, Thursday.

Geoff Blum doubled off Jesse Crain (9-3) leading off the 10th, and pinch-hitter Pablo Ozuna bunted to Crain. The pitcher’s throw beat Blum to third base, but Luis Rodriguez missed the tag on the sacrifice.

Perez followed with his single to left-center field.

“That’s why they’ve got their record, because they take advantage of other teams’ mistakes,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Closer Dustin Hermanson (1-2) blew just his third save in 34 chances but earned the victory. Bobby Jenks worked the 10th for his first major-league save.

Chicago won the final two games of the three-game series and took an 11 1â2-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central. The Twins lost for the third time in 11 games and dropped 31â2 games behind the New York Yankees and Oakland in the AL wild card race.

Chicago's Jon Garland sticks out his tongue while delivering a pitch during the White Sox's victory against Minnesota. The Sox beat the Twins, 2-1, Thursday in Minneapolis.

Jon Garland pitched 72â3 scoreless innings and was in position to tie the Angels’ Bartolo Colon for the AL lead in wins at 17 before the Twins rallied in the ninth.

“The team came away with the win and took the series – what more can you ask for?” said Garland, who allowed six hits and struck out five.

Chicago, attempting to dethrone three-time defending AL Central champion Minnesota, received its third straight strong start. Freddy Garcia pitched a one-hitter in a losing effort Tuesday, and Mark Buehrle allowed one run in eight innings to win Wednesday.

“We’re winning because our starting pitching has been great and our bullpen has done a good job,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “To win the series was really important to us.”

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 2

New York – Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez hit consecutive first-inning home runs to back another strong start by Shawn Chacon as new York beat Toronto.

Chacon improved to 3-1 with a 1.80 earned-run average with the Yankees after going 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA for Colorado. He pitched out of a pair of bases-loaded jams to earn his third straight victory, allowing six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking four.

Athletics 11, Tigers 1

Detroit – Barry Zito (12-10) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings, and Mark Ellis, Dan Johnson and Jay Payton homered to lead Oakland.

The A’s won their second straight after dropping seven of nine and scored their most runs since an 11-0 victory over Kansas City on Aug. 7.

Indians 12, Devil Rays 4

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Ronnie Belliard hit his first career grand slam during a seven-run third, leading Cleveland past Tampa Bay.

Jose Hernandez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for Cleveland, which stayed less than a percentage point behind the New York Yankees and Oakland in the AL wild-card race.

The Indians have won seven of eight overall, and are 39-26 on the road.

Mariners 8, Rangers 2

Arlington, Texas – Jeff Harris (1-1), a 31-year-old rookie drafted 11 years ago, limited Texas to just four singles and an unearned run over seven innings in his second career start, getting defensive help from four double plays.

Ichiro Suzuki hit his third career grand slam for Seattle, a drive in a five-run ninth.

Orioles 2, Angels 0

Baltimore – Rodrigo Lopez scattered seven hits over seven innings, Javy Lopez hit a two-run homer, and Baltimore beat Los Angeles to end a five-game losing streak.

Lopez (13-7) struck out five, walked one and worked out of several jams in helping the Orioles avoid a three-game sweep. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA in seven career games against the Angels.