Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya left the game in the eighth inning after falling to the ground in pain after throwing a pitch.
Jeremy Bonderman (4-5) allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. Jose Valverde relieved Zumaya and got five outs for his 18th straight save.
The Tigers moved into first place for the first time since May 20.
Nelson Liriano (6-6) surrendered a season-high six runs in six-plus innings to lose his third straight start.
Jim Thome of the Twins homered and had his first triple in more than six years. Minnesota hit into three double plays to increase their major league-leading total to 88.
At Kansas City, Missouri, Anthony Lerew threw six solid innings for his first major league victory, and Billy Butler drove in two runs for Kansas City.
The White Sox lost their second straight after an 11-game winning streak ended Sunday. It was just their third defeat in 18 games.
Lerew (1-1), a rookie right-hander making his eighth major league start and 17th appearance, allowed one run and three hits. It was the Royals’ fourth win in five games.
Carlos Quentin’s 13th homer in the fourth inning was the only run Lerew allowed.
Chicago’s Mark Buehrle, who went 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in interleague play, lost for the first time since June 1. Buehrle (6-7) allowed three runs, 10 hits and a season-high five walks in 6 1-3 innings.
Butler’s two-out single in the second scored Kendall, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead.
Royals relievers Victor Marte, Robinson Tejeda and Joakim Soria, who earned his 19th save in 21 opportunities, preserved the lead for Lerew with three scoreless innings.
At Cleveland, Jake Westbrook pitched six solid innings and Jayson Nix’s suicide squeeze bunt in the sixth scored the go-ahead run for Cleveland.
The Indians, who broke a seven-game losing streak Sunday, won consecutive games for the first time since winning four straight June 9-12. The Blue Jays have lost six of eight.
Westbrook (5-4), who allowed a run in the first inning, was pulled after Lyle Overbay led off the seventh with a single. Westbrook gave up six hits, struck out four and walked one.
Kerry Wood pitched the ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances.
Ricky Romero (6-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander is 2-2 with a 1.88 ERA in his last six starts.
Travis Hafner was hit by a pitch in the sixth and took third on Jhonny Peralta’s double. After a groundout, Hafner broke for home on an 0-1 pitch to Nix, who bunted toward the mound. Romero’s toss fell short of the plate as Hafner slid home to break the 1-1 tie.
