The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Frank Thomas hit a huge grand slam against Roger Clemens, propelling the Chicago White Sox to a big win.

Thomas homered high off the foul pole near the left-field upper deck and Magglio Ordonez followed with another long home run off the front of the center-field bleachers as the White Sox beat up the New York Yankees 13-2 Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Esteban Loaiza (17-6) improved to 6-1 since the All-Star break, allowing one hit in seven innings and leaving with an 11-0 lead. He tied Toronto's Roy Halladay for the AL lead in wins.

Paul Konerko and Joe Crede also homered off Clemens (12-8), who allowed four home runs in a game for only the second time in his major-league career.

Konerko, who had three hits and four RBI, homered again in the eighth off Gabe White, making his Yankees debut. Magglio Ordonez also homered twice for Chicago, which hit six home runs in a game for the second time this season.

After his mother, Bess, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, Clemens made his 600th career start and had one of his worst outings, tying his high by allowing nine runs.

Tigers 5, Indians 4

CLEVELAND - Craig Monroe and Dmitri Young hit home runs as Detroit won its second straight game for the first time in six weeks.

Nate Cornejo (6-13) snapped his five-game losing streak and gave the Tigers their first winning streak since they won three straight wrapped around the All-Star break.

The Tigers, who already have 97 losses and are threatening to break the 1962 New York Mets' modern record of 120 in a season, snapped an 11-game skid Sunday.

Royals 9, Rangers 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mike Sweeney and Aaron Guiel each homered and drove in four runs, leading Brian Anderson and the Kansas City Royals.

Anderson, acquired in a trade with Cleveland on Monday, turned in a solid start as the Royals stayed one game back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Anderson (10-10) pitched six innings, giving up two runs and four hits. He struck out three and walked none.

Anderson retired the first 11 batters before Alex Rodriguez singled with two outs in the fourth inning and Rafael Palmeiro followed with a two-run homer to right field that cut Kansas City's lead to 3-2.

Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 9

BOSTON - Vernon Wells hit an RBI double that keyed a five-run eighth inning, and Toronto beat Boston, ending a five-game winning streak for the Red Sox.

Down 12-7, the Red Sox rallied for one run in the eighth and loaded the bases with two outs. But Manny Ramirez struck out against rookie Aquilino Lopez.

Kevin Millar hit an inside-the-park homer in the ninth for Boston. The Red Sox missed a chance to move up on New York, which lost to Chicago 13-2 but held its five-game lead in the AL East.

The Red Sox trailed 7-1, but rallied to tie it as David McCarty hit a three-run homer.

Toronto then pulled away and stopped its three-game losing streak.