DETROIT (AP) - Justin Verlander took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers expanded their AL Central lead over Chicago with an 8-1 win over the White Sox on Friday night.
The White Sox had won five of six, but fell 6½ games behind the first-place Tigers with two games left in the series.
Austin Jackson had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the Tigers, while Jhonny Peralta added a three-run double in a five-run fifth.
Verlander (21-5) improved to 19-2 since May 1, allowing one run on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out six in Jim Leyland's 500th win as Tigers manager.
On a 95-degree day, John Danks (6-10) struggled badly for Chicago, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings.
Rangers 10, Red Sox 0
BOSTON (AP) - Derek Holland allowed two hits in seven innings and got his usual strong support as Texas hit three homers against Boston.
The Rangers' first homer came on a three-run shot by Ian Kinsler in the second. In the fifth, David Murphy hit a solo homer and Elvis Andrus added a two-run blast after a single by Craig Gentry.
The Rangers came in scoring 7.29 runs per game for Holland (13-5) - a major-league best for a pitcher - but he didn't need much backing, holding Boston to a pair of singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez. Neither made it to second base as Ellsbury was caught stealing and Gonzalez was stranded when Kevin Youkilis struck out.
Texas posted its 12th road shutout, the most in the majors since Atlanta had 12 in 1998.
Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2
NEW YORK (AP) - Ivan Nova won his 11th straight decision with some help from a rangy outfield and Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking single in the fifth inning, lifting New York over Toronto.
Nova (15-4) was nearly unhittable for seven innings after giving up two hits and a walk before getting an out and two runs in the first.
Brett Gardner hit a two-run homer in the third for New York, which returned early Friday from a successful trip to Boston.
Gardner, Andruw Jones and Curtis Granderson all made impressive plays to help the Yankees improve to 12-0 in Nova's last 12 starts.
Brandon Morrow (9-10) made few mistakes against a Yankees lineup missing Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, their Nos. 3 and 4 hitters.
Twins 13, Angels 5
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Carl Pavano won for the first time in 10 starts since the All-Star break, Trevor Plouffe homered and Minnesota received four bases-loaded walks against Los Angeles.
The Angels, who took the field knowing Texas had already beaten the Boston Red Sox 10-0 at Fenway Park, began a nine-game homestand with their fifth loss in eight games and slipped 4½ games behind the Rangers in the AL West race.
Pavano (7-11) allowed four runs and six hits over 6 2-3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. It was the first victory since July 7 for the 35-year-old right-hander, who has given up the most runs (107) and hits (221) in the majors.
Rookie right-hander Tyler Chatwood (6-10) threw 83 pitches over 3 2-3 innings, giving up six runs, five hits and five walks in a spot start after getting recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Orioles 3, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Zach Britton had his third consecutive solid start, J.J. Hardy drove in two runs and Baltimore beat Tampa Bay.
Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave up one run in a combined 12 innings.
David Price (12-12) was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings with 11 strikeouts and three walks.
Nolan Reimold's sacrifice fly and Hardy's two-run single accounted for the runs in the seventh.
Evan Longoria gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.
Indians 5, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Justin Masterson worked seven strong innings, and Asdrubal Cabrera and Jason Donald both homered to lift Cleveland over Kansas City.
Masterson (11-8) allowed seven hits and four runs as the Indians (69-66) equaled last year's win total and remained 5½ games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central.
Royals starter Bruce Chen (10-6) gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings and Chris Perez worked the ninth for his 31st save.
Athletics 9, Mariners 2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Hideki Matsui and Cliff Pennington both drove in three runs to lead Oakland over Seattle.
Brandon Allen and Scott Sizemore drove in runs for the A's, who won their second straight following a five-game losing streak.
Guillermo Moscoso (7-8) snapped a two-game losing streak despite allowing his first earned run in 25 2-3 innings against AL West opponents. He improved to 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA at home this season.
Franklin Gutierrez and Brendan Ryan drove in runs for the Mariners, who lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Jason Vargas (7-13) fell to 1-8 over his last 11 starts.