The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox wasted little time warming up for their first-place showdown with the Minnesota Twins.

Jose Valentin and Miguel Olivo had two RBI each in a five-run first inning Monday night as Bartolo Colon and the White Sox beat the Twins 5-2 in the opener of a key four-game series.

With the victory, Chicago took a one-game lead in the AL Central at the start of what promises to be a frenetic final three weeks of the season. The teams also play three times next week at the Metrodome.

Minnesota had its five-game winning streak snapped.

Colon (13-12) allowed 10 hits and made one of the game's best defensive plays, snaring Denny Hocking's line drive up the middle with runners at second and third and no outs in the seventh.

He then fanned Doug Mientkiewicz and got Matthew LeCroy to fly out to end the threat. Colon walked one and struck out four in his seventh complete game of the season.

Yankees 9, Blue Jays 3

NEW YORK - Hideki Matsui drove in three runs, and the New York Yankees' hitters made plenty of noise on a quiet afternoon in the Bronx.

Only 8,848 fans showed up at Yankee Stadium to watch the makeup of a July 22 rainout.

Matsui hit his 40th double and a pair of singles, and slumping Jason Giambi went 2-for-3 with two walks. Alfonso Soriano also had three of the Yankees' 16 hits - the same total they had in the whole series against the Red Sox.

Mike Mussina (16-7) was given a three-run lead in the first inning and kept the Yankees ahead before leaving after the seventh. He earned his 198th career victory, a day after teammate David Wells also won No. 198.

Mussina struck out eight and took over the AL lead with 183, passing Boston's Pedro Martinez at 175.

Orioles 13, Red Sox 10

BALTIMORE - Deivi Cruz drove in four runs and Jerry Hairston scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning as Baltimore rallied for the win.

The Orioles trailed 8-5 before scoring four runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth. Baltimore took advantage of four Boston errors to improve to 8-5 against the Red Sox this season.

Catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Derek Lowe, who wasn't playing in the game, were ejected in the seventh inning.