Paul Konerko got a big milestone home run and the White Sox got a sweep of the only team between them and the AL Central lead.
Konerko’s tiebreaking three-run homer was his 400th with the White Sox, who routed the Cleveland Indians, 12-6, Sunday to complete a three-game sweep in Chicago.
The White Sox have won five straight for the first time this season and 9 of 10 overall.
Konerko, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, also came out for a curtain call after fans chanted “Paul-ie!’’ Paul-ie!’’ following No. 400.
“It’s probably the thing I’m proud of most, more than any numbers,’’ he said. “I’m proud of that one fact of just being here as long as I have.’’
Drafted by the Dodgers in 1994, Konerko played in 55 games for Los Angeles and 26 for Cincinnati before coming to Chicago in a trade after the 1998 season.
Konerko finished with two hits and four RBIs, and raised his average to a majors-best .399.
Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer for the Indians, his first of the season, and Ubaldo Jimenez struggled over four-plus innings.
Cardinals 8, Phillies 3 - Roy Halladay gave up a grand slam to Yadier Molina in an abbreviated two-inning start before leaving with shoulder soreness as St. Louis avoided a four-game sweep by Philadelphia.
The Phillies were looking for their first four-game sweep in St. Louis in 99 years.
Adam Wainwright allowed a run on seven hits in six innings, thriving in 90-degree heat for his second straight dominant outing.
All of the Cardinals’ runs came from homers.
Yankees 2, Athletics 0 - Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight scoreless innings, Andruw Jones hit a solo homer, and Mark Teixeira added an RBI double as visiting New York won its season-high fifth straight game, beating Oakland.
Rangers 12, Blue Jays 6 - Adrian Beltre homered during a seven-run second inning, Yu Darvish posted his seventh victory, and Texas defeated Toronto for a three-game sweep.
Reds 7, Rockies 5 - Brandon Phillips hit a three-run homer to help host Cincinnati outslug Colorado in a game that set a record for Great American Ball Park with nine home runs.
Mat Latos allowed five hits - and all of them were solo home runs. Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez hit two of them, and Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Cuddyer, and Dexter Fowler also took the Cincinnati starter deep.
Tigers 4, Twins 3 - In Minneapolis, Miguel Cabrera’s two-run, one-out homer in the ninth inning lifted Detroit over Minnesota, as the Tigers finished a three-game sweep.
Royals 4, Orioles 2 - Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler hit home runs to lead visiting Kansas City over Baltimore.
Angels 4, Mariners 2 - Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo homered to help Los Angeles complete their first four-game road sweep of Seattle in 27 years.
Mets 2, Padres 0 - R.A. Dickey struck out 10 as host New York held punchless San Diego scoreless for the second straight day.
Giants 3, Marlins 2 - Melky Cabrera tied a career high with four hits, including a home run, and scored all three runs for San Francisco to help Matt Cain beat Miami.
Pirates 10, Cubs 4 - Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen, and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings, and host Pittsburgh sent Chicago to its 12th consecutive defeat.
Dodgers 5, Astros 1 - Jerry Hairston Jr. got a career-high five hits, Chris Capuano recorded his seventh win, and host Los Angeles beat Houston.
Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3 - Arizona got two-out RBI singles from Jason Kubel, Ryan Roberts, and Henry Blanco in the sixth in beating visiting Milwaukee.
Nationals 7, Braves 2 - Bryce Harper hit his second homer in two days and Gio Gonzalez (7-1) gave up only one hit in seven innings as visiting Washington beat Atlanta, which lost its seventh straight game.