CHICAGO – Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered as the Chicago White Sox routed the Minnesota Twins 12-2 Sunday for their sixth straight win.

The latest outburst came exactly one week after manager Ozzie Guillen lashed out at his struggling hitters. They responded with 54 runs during this streak, and have scored 10 or more in three consecutive games for the first time since July 15-17, 2000, against St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Chicago also has compiled at least 15 hits in three straight games for the first time since July 23-24, 1932, against Cleveland.

Swisher’s three-run homer off Kevin Slowey (2-6) in the second made it 3-1 and Chicago broke it open with five more in the third.

Yankees 6, Royals 3

NEW YORK – Joba Chamberlain bounced back from a disappointing first start with the Yankees, pitching into the fifth inning to help New York beat Kansas City.

Jason Giambi hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth and Bobby Abreu finished with a home run and three RBIs for the Yankees, who have won four of five. Johnny Damon got two more hits after going 6-for-6 with the game-winning single in New York’s 12-11 comeback victory Saturday.

Jose Guillen hit a two-run homer and Joey Gathright made three outstanding plays in center field for Kansas City, which has lost 17 of 20.

Working under a strict pitch count as he transitions from the bullpen to the rotation, Chamberlain threw 78 pitches on a 95-degree afternoon. He allowed three runs – two earned – and five hits in 4 1-3 innings, striking out five and walking one.

Dan Giese (1-1) replaced Chamberlain and pitched 2 2-3 hitless innings for his first major league win.

Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4

TORONTO – Roy Halladay won his fourth straight start, Vernon Wells homered and the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a four-game losing streak.

Marco Scutaro drove in two runs for Toronto, which avoided a three-game sweep.

Luke Scott hit two homers for the Orioles, a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run drive in the sixth. It was the third multihomer game of his career.

Halladay (8-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings and has not lost since May 9 at Cleveland, a span of six starts. B.J. Ryan worked the ninth for his 13th save.

Trailing 4-2, the Blue Jays scored three times in the sixth against reliever Matt Albers (3-2).

Rangers 6, Rays 3

ARLINGTON, Texas – David Murphy hit one of Texas’ three homers and the Rangers beat bickering Tampa Bay despite playing without ailing hitting stars Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.

German Duran and Ramon Vazquez also homered for the Rangers. The Rays missed out on their first road sweep this season with a loss that included a scuffle between pitcher Matt Garza and catcher Dioner Navarro.

In the fourth inning, after No. 9 hitter Duran hit a two-run homer for a 3-0 lead, Garza (4-3) and Navarro had heated words as pitching coach Jim Hickey came out to the mound. Hickey even appeared to shove Navarro.

Athletics 7, Angels 3

OAKLAND, Calif. – Mark Ellis hit a grand slam with two outs in the 12th inning, and Oakland ended Los Angeles’ season-best seven-game winning streak.

Ellis hit the first pitch from Chris Bootcheck (0-1) just inside the left-field foul pole for his second career game-ending homer and his third grand slam.

It was the fifth walk-off grand slam by the Athletics and first since Mark McGwire did it on June 30, 1995, also against the Angels. Ellis’ sixth homer of the year ended a game that lasted 3 hours, 53 minutes.

Brad Ziegler (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 hitless innings for his first major league win. Oakland’s Eric Chavez hit an RBI double in the seventh off Darren Oliver to make it 3-all.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer for Los Angeles.

Tigers 5, Indians 2

DETROIT – Curtis Granderson homered and Placido Polanco hit a key two-run single as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians.

Armando Galarraga (5-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 5 2-3 innings. Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

Jeremy Sowers (0-1) took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings.