Minneapolis ? Jose Contreras is glad to put his opening-day problems in the past.

Contreras pitched a five-hitter Thursday for his second career shutout, and the White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins, 3-0.

Tagged for seven runs by Cleveland in the opener, Contreras has bounced back nicely. Since then, he is 3-2 with a 2.29 earned-run average in six starts.

“I didn’t want to remember that. I forgot about that,” Contreras said through a translator. “I felt good. That’s the most important thing for me. I feel healthy.”

A.J. Pierzynski, Ryan Sweeney and Pablo Ozuna hit RBI singles for the White Sox, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Contreras (3-3) struck out four, walked one and threw just 98 pitches – 67 for strikes. His other shutout in 109 career starts was a three-hitter against Detroit on Aug. 11, 2006.

“We need that. He needs that,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “When he throws strikes, he’s really nasty. And he did that today.”

Torii Hunter went 0-for-4 to end his 23-game hitting streak, tied for the fourth-best in Minnesota history. He received a standing ovation after he flied out to lead off the ninth.

Orioles 11, Devil Rays 6

Baltimore – Kevin Millar homered and drove in four runs, Corey Patterson had three hits and three RBIs, and Baltimore beat Tampa Bay for a three-game sweep. Daniel Cabrera (3-3) allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings but improved to 4-0 against Tampa Bay in eight career starts.

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 0

Toronto – Tim Wakefield pitched seven sharp innings while Boston roughed up Roy Halladay, sending Toronto to its ninth straight loss. Mike Lowell homered for the third consecutive game for Boston, which has won seven of eight.

Halladay (4-2) gave up eight runs, seven earned, and 11 hits in five innings on the same day Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, ending his season.

Rangers 14, Yankees 2

New York – Brandon McCarthy limited New York to one run in 51â3 innings, and pinch-hitter Victor Diaz hit his first career grand slam. Mark Teixeira had four hits, including three doubles, and three RBIs for the Rangers.

Texas turned the game into a blowout with three runs in the seventh and seven more in the eighth. Rangers closer Eric Gagne pitched a perfect ninth, his first action since straining a hip on April 22.

Angels 8, Indians 0

Anaheim, Calif. – Kelvim Escobar pitched a seven-hitter, and Gary Matthews Jr. hit a three-run homer in the third inning for Los Angeles. Escobar (4-1) struck out nine and walked none to win his third straight start. It was his fourth career shutout and first since he did it for the Toronto Blue Jays on June 8, 2003, at Cincinnati.

Tigers 7, Mariners 3

Detroit – Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge homered against struggling Seattle starter Jeff Weaver, and Detroit won for the ninth time in 10 games. Weaver (0-6), a former Tiger, gave up six runs in five innings.