The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Shannon Stewart drove in a pair of runs and Johan Santana won his fourth straight decision Wednesday night as the Minnesota Twins defeated Chicago 4-1 and pulled one game behind the American League Central-leading White Sox.

Cristian Guzman and Matthew LeCroy also drove in runs for Minnesota, which snapped a six-game losing streak to the White Sox. It was only the Twins' second victory in their last 13 games in Chicago.

It came at an opportune time, too. Chicago had won the first two of the four-game series, taking a two-game lead in the division race. But now that lead is back to one, with only four games left between the teams.

Magglio Ordonez drove in the only run for Chicago, which had won six straight games. The White Sox stranded seven, four in scoring position.

Royals 9, Indians 7

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Brent Mayne's two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning, and Kansas City snapped a four-game home losing streak.

Kris Wilson (6-3) earned the win with one inning of relief. After a clutch setup performance by Curtis Leskanic, Jeremy Affeldt went 2 1/3 perfect innings for his fourth save in as many chances.

Josh Bard hit a three-run homer and Alex Escobar and Jody Gerut had three hits each for the Indians, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Red Sox 5, Orioles 0

BALTIMORE - Pedro Martinez allowed three hits over eight innings and Kevin Millar had two RBI in a three-run first inning for Boston.

Martinez (12-4) walked two in lowering his league-leading ERA to 2.36 and took over the strikeout lead with 187. He gave up singles to Geronimo Gil in the third and eighth innings, and a double to Larry Bigbie in the seventh.

Yankees 15, Tigers 5

NEW YORK - Jorge Posada hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs, and New York overcame four errors to win its fourth straight game. Hideki Matsui homered and drove in three runs, and Nick Johnson also homered but made three of the Yankees' defensive miscues.

Detroit finished with four errors, including three by first baseman Carlos Pena, and lost its fifth straight game.

Blue Jays 6, Devil Rays 5

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning, and Wells drove in three runs to lead Toronto.

Mark Hendrickson (9-9) gave up three runs - all in the first inning - and six hits over six innings. In his previous three starts, he had a 10.97 ERA over 10 2/3 innings.