Gavin Floyd keeps flirting with pitching a no-hitter.

The White Sox starter held Minnesota hitless for 8 1-3 innings on Tuesday night before giving up a double to Joe Mauer, and Chicago went on to beat the Twins 7-1.

Floyd, who held Detroit hitless for 7 1-3 innings on April 12, walked three and struck out four. The only run the Twins could muster was aided by an error on Chicago left fielder Carlos Quentin in the fourth inning.

Asked if he was destined to throw a no-hitter, Floyd said: "Who knows? It's out of your control."

A.J. Pierzynski, who caught Mark Buehrle's no-hitter and has been behind the plate for both of Floyd's flirtations, said it's rare and difficult to retire 27 men without giving up a hit.

"So many things can go wrong. He came close tonight. He had a great shot," Pierzynski said.

With the spirited crowd of 23,480 at U.S. Cellular Field cheering loudly, Brendan Harris struck out looking at a curveball to start the ninth inning. As the tension built, Mauer put an end to the suspense.

"It motivated me to keep making pitches and just attack," Floyd said of the crowd support. "Hopefully throw a no-hitter. It didn't happen today, but we got a win."

At Detroit, Tim Wakefield only allowed two hits in eight shutout innings to lift the Red Sox over the Tigers.

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez also hit back-to-back homers on successive pitches in Boston's fifth straight win and seventh in the last eight games.

Rays 5, Blue Jays 4

At Toronto, Andy Sonnanstine won his fourth straight start, Eric Hinske homered and the Rays beat the Blue Jays to snap Toronto's five-game winning streak.

Sonnanstine (5-1) allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings, becoming the fastest five-game winner in Tampa Bay's 11-year history. He walked one and struck out two.

Indians 5, Yankees 3

At New York, pinch-hitter David Dellucci stunned the Yankees with a go-ahead homer off Joba Chamberlain, and the Indians rallied for a victory in the opener of a three-game series.

Dellucci's three-run shot with two outs in the eighth inning spoiled a strong start by Andy Pettitte and boosted a Cleveland offense that's been struggling mightily at the plate.

Angels 5, Royals 3

At Kansas City, Mo., Garret Anderson homered for the second straight game and drove in five runs to lift the Angels over the Royals.

Anderson, who had a two-run homer Monday night, slammed Brian Bannister's pitch over the right field wall for a three-run shot that tied the score. In the fifth, Anderson's RBI single made it 4-3.

Athletics 4, Orioles 2

At Oakland, Calif., Justin Duchscherer won his second straight start in his third outing since coming off the disabled list and the Athletics won their third straight.

Duchscherer (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits in seven strong innings. Alan Embree pitched a perfect eighth and Santiago Casilla finished for his first save in as many chances.

Rangers 10, Mariners 1

At Seattle, major league RBIs leader Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and David Murphy drove in three runs each to support Sidney Ponson in the Rangers' victory over the sinking Mariners.

Seattle lost for the sixth time in seven games before the smallest crowd in Safeco Field history to move back into a last-place tie in the AL West.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves 5, Padres 3

At Atlanta, Chipper Jones hit his 10th homer, Jair Jurrjens (4-2) pitched six strong innings and Atlanta won its fourth straight to improve the NL's best home record to 12-4.

Mark Kotsay added two hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs. He also delivered the defensive play of the game in the fifth, making an over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track of Tadahito Iguchi's drive.

Cubs 3, Reds 0

At Cincinnati, Carlos Zambrano had his way with the Reds' slumping lineup, allowing only three hits in eight innings, and Ronny Cedeno singled home a pair of runs for visiting Chicago.

The Cubs won for only fourth time in 12 games. Zambrano (5-1) has won four straight decisions, two against the Reds.

Pirates 12, Giants 6

At Pittsburgh, Nate McLouth, dropped a spot in Pittsburgh's order to get more opportunities to produce runs, homered twice while driving in three runs and Zach Duke (1-2) won for the first time in nearly a year.

Duke (1-2) was winless in six starts this season and 12 games since June 12 before taking a shutout into the seventh.

Dodgers 5, Mets 4

At Los Angeles, just 24 hours after hitting his first major league home run, Blake DeWitt got his first inside-the park homer -- a two-run shot off the top of the right-field fence in the fifth inning -- that gave the Dodgers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

DeWitt also had a two-run single among his three hits, helping the Dodgers win for the 10th time in 11 games.

Marlins 3, Brewers 0

At Miami, Scott Olsen allowed two hits in 8 2-3 innings, and Mike Jacobs hit a two-run homer to help Florida win at home.

Ryan Braun doubled in the fourth and Prince Fielder singled with two outs in the ninth for Milwaukee's only hits. Kevin Gregg needed only one pitch to retire Bill Hall on a flyout for his sixth save in seven chances.

Astros 6, Nationals 5

At Houston, Carlos Lee had the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning and Lance Berkman had a career-high five hits to lead the Astros.

The win was the Astros' fourth straight and gave them a winning record for the first time since April 22. Doug Brocail (2-0) got the victory, while Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Cardinals 6, Rockies 5

At Denver, Braden Looper (5-1) pitched into the ninth inning in the longest outing of his career and went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals hung on.

Rick Ankiel hit his sixth homer of the season and Ryan Ludwick finished 4-for-4 with two doubles as the Cardinals won for the eighth time in 10 games.