Chris Sale (1-1) earned his first major league victory, finishing with 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief. Jose Valverde (2-4) took the loss.

Manny Ramirez led off the Chicago in 10th with a single and went to second when left fielder Ryan Raburn stumbled and made an error. Pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza took third on a single by pinch-hitter Alex Rios, and Pierzynski looped an RBI single.

The White Sox stayed 3 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota.

In Minneapolis, Jason Kubel hit a go-ahead homer and Jim Thome launched his 585th career home run moments later, powering the Minnesota Twins past the Kansas City Royals.

The fifth-inning shots by Kubel and Thome kept the Twins 3 1/2 games ahead of Chicago in the AL Central.

Thome’s blast hit off the top of the American flagpole beyond the right-field bleachers at Target Field. He is one homer shy of Frank Robinson for eighth all-time.

The homer by Thome traveled so far and was so high, it required multiple viewings by the Twins public relations staff to get an accurate estimated distance. It was eventually announced at 480 feet.

Jeff Manship (2-0) gave up two runs in two innings. Matt Capps needed just eight pitches in the ninth to record his 10th save in 12 chances with the Twins.

Sean O’Sullivan (2-5) took the loss.

In New York, Brian Matusz won his fourth straight start and Brian Roberts hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning off struggling A.J. Burnett , leading the Baltimore Orioles over the New York Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in two runs to reach 100 RBIs for the 13th straight season and record 14th time overall. He surpassed Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx, who each reached 100 RBIs 13 times.

Baltimore had been 0-6 at Yankee Stadium, but the Al-worst Orioles came to New York for the first time under Buck Showalter and won their third in a row, improving to 20-13 under their new manager.

Matusz (8-12) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. Matt Albers , Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara finished, with Uehara getting his seventh save.

Burnett (10-13) lost for the fifth time in six decisions, giving up four runs, seven hits and four walks in seven innings.

In Boston, Ryan Kalish hit a grand slam, David Ortiz had a two-run shot and Jon Lester pitched six solid innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over Tampa Bay, preventing the Rays from climbing closer in the AL East race.

The Rays lost their third straight and remained 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees. Boston moved within 6 1/2 games of Tampa Bay in the wild-card standings.

Adrian Beltre added a solo homer for the Red Sox. Lester (16-8) gave up two runs and four hits while striking out 10 for his fifth win in six decisions.

Boston took control by scoring three runs in each of the first two innings, and broke it open when Kalish hit his slam in a five-run fourth.

Ortiz and Beltre hit consecutive homers three pitches apart in the first to put the Red Sox ahead 3-1.

In Toronto, Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer, Aaron Hill had a two-run shot and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas, handing the reeling Rangers their seventh loss in nine games.

Yunel Escobar added a solo drive for Toronto, which leads the majors with 211 homers.

Tommy Hunter (12-3) struggled early as the Rangers lost their fourth straight. Texas leads the AL West by seven games over Oakland.

Ricky Romero (12-8) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings.

In the seventh, a fan was struck on the right shoulder by a falling metal letter “B” after a foul ball by Jose Bautista hit a sign honoring Jackie Robinson. The man was treated with ice packs and returned to his seat.

In Oakland, California, Coco Crisp and Matt Carson each hit solo home runs to back Brett Anderson , and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners.

Anderson (4-6) allowed four hits in a season-high 7 2-3 innings and left to a standing ovation. He ended a four-game losing streak that matched the longest of his career.

Then again, most everyone seems to be shutting down Seattle lately. The Mariners have scored three or fewer runs in 11 straight games.

Crisp homered in the first, Oakland’s first leadoff homer of the season. Jason Vargas (9-9) lost his fourth straight start and was done after 4 1-3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the year.

In Anaheim, California, Shin-Soo Choo drove home Michael Brantley with a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat the Los Angeles Angels.

Brantley’s two-out double off Angels closer Fernando Rodney (4-2) started the final surge for the last-place Indians, who have won three of five on a West Coast road trip.

Torii Hunter hit a tying homer in the sixth for the punchless Angels, who have lost 10 of 14.

Jensen Lewis (4-2) earned the victory with three pitches, striking out Mike Napoli with a runner on base in the eighth.