Grand ole time in Chicago

White Sox slams keep toothless Tigers reeling

Jim Thome (25) has a big hand for Paul Konerko after Konerko's third-inning grand slam gave the White Sox a 5-0 lead over the struggling Tigers. (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit grand slams to back Javier Vazquez's strong start, and the red-hot White Sox pounded the struggling Detroit Tigers, 11-0, yesterday in Chicago.

Konerko's homer came in the third inning off Kenny Rogers and Crede's grand slam, his second this season, came in the fifth against Zach Miner as the White Sox won for the fifth time in six games against Detroit, the preseason favorite to win the American League Central.

Chicago already has a 5 1/2-game lead in the division over the Tigers, who have the worst record in the majors at 2-10. The White Sox have outscored Detroit, 46-12, this season.

Vazquez (2-1) won his second straight start, scattering five hits in seven innings while striking out nine without a walk.

Blue Jays 5, Rangers 4 - Joe Inglett drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, B.J. Ryan earned his first save in more than a year, and Toronto completed a three-game sweep in Arlington, Texas.

With the game tied, 4-4, Frank Thomas was walked by Dustin Nippert (0-1) leading off the 10th, and after Marco Scutaro ran for him, Lyle Overbay also walked. Gregg Zaun's sacrifice moved the runners up, and Inglett's fly ball to right scored Scutaro, giving the Jays the lead.

Ryan was activated before the game barely 11 months after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery. His last save was April 11, 2007.

Indians 7, Athletics 1 - Cliff Lee's quick and efficient pitching in the wind and cold helped host Cleveland end Oakland's five-game winning streak.

After a 48-minute delay at the start, Lee (2-0) repeatedly got his teammates out of the cold - 38 degrees with a 28-degree wind chill at gametime - and back into the dugout, limiting the A's to one run and two hits over eight innings. The lefthander struck out eight without a walk as a wind-whipped mix of snow and rain fell intermittently throughout.

Rays 6, Orioles 2 - Jeff Niemann allowed one run over six innings in his major league debut and B.J. Upton hit a three-run homer, helping Tampa Bay dunk Baltimore at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Niemann, taken fourth overall in the 2004 amateur draft, was recalled from Triple A Durham to replace the injured Matt Garza in the rotation. The 6-foot-9-inch righthander gave up six hits, one walk, and had five strikeouts.

Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 5 - Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins homered as visiting Colorado snapped Arizona's eight-game win streak.

Barmes drove in four runs and Holliday and Atkins knocked in three apiece for the Rockies, who beat their NL West rivals for the first time in six meetings this year.

Nationals 5, Braves 4 - Atlanta starter Tom Glavine left with a strained right hamstring before recording an out, and host Washington raced to a 5-0 lead before ending its nine-game losing streak.

Glavine (0-1) matched the shortest start of his 22-season, 303-win career, departing after letting all four batters he faced reach base.

Royals 5, Twins 1 - Brian Bannister threw his second career complete game and outpitched Francisco Liriano, who was making his first start since 2006, as Kansas City topped Minnesota to snap a three-game skid.

Padres 1, Dodgers 0 - At Chavez Ravine, Greg Maddux recorded his 349th career victory one day before his 42d birthday and Paul McAnulty delivered a sacrifice fly, leading San Diego over Los Angeles.

Giants 7, Cardinals 4 - Tim Lincecum struck out 11 in six innings and rookie John Bowker homered for the second straight day and drove in four runs as San Francisco thumped visiting St. Louis.

Cubs 6, Phillies 5 - Second baseman Chase Utley's throwing error allowed Ronny Cedeno to score the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Chicago avoided a three-game sweep in Philadelphia.

Brewers 9, Mets 7 - Gabe Kapler homered for the second straight day, doubled twice, and drove in three runs to help Milwaukee edge host New York.

Astros 5, Marlins 1 - Wandy Rodriguez struck out seven and J.R. Towles and Michael Bourn homered to lead Houston over Florida at Minute Maid Park.

Angels 10, Mariners 5 - Jeff Mathis hit a two-run homer to highlight a 16-hit attack as Los Angeles beat host Seattle.

Pirates 9, Reds 1 - Ryan Doumit, Xavier Nady, and Jason Bay homered, leading host Pittsburgh past Cincinnati.