The Detroit Tigers' recent swoon couldn't have come at a worse time.

With the surging Chicago White Sox coming to town, Detroit lost for the ninth time in 12 games Sunday, falling 7-6 to the Texas Rangers.

The Tigers have seen their 10Z\x-game lead in the AL Central slip to 5½ over the White Sox.

"The attitude in here is we're still the best team in baseball," said Craig Monroe, who had two RBIs. "We have some tough games coming up, but this is what it's all about."

The Tigers' August slump has tightened up the division with Chicago and Minnesota closing fast. The Twins beat the White Sox 7-3 on Sunday behind Johan Santana, who continues to be unbeatable at the Metrodome.

Santana (15-5) hasn't lost at home in 20 starts, dating to Aug. 6, 2005. He is 13-0 with a 2.03 ERA during that stretch.

The Venezuelan lefty wasn't his usual overpowering self Sunday as he pitched with a blister and split nail on the middle finger of his left hand. He allowed six hits and struck out five, but got better as the game went on.

After allowing at least one runner to reach in each of the first five innings, he retired the last nine hitters he faced to help the Twins take two of three in the weekend series.

"People say he didn't have his best stuff because he didn't have 13 strikeouts or whatever," Twins catcher Mike Redmond said. "But he was just as effective getting groundballs and moving through the lineup."

White Sox starter Javier Vazquez (11-8) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. He entered leading the majors in run support with 8.13 per game, but knew he wouldn't have that luxury facing Santana, who's making a strong bid for his second AL Cy Young award in three years.

In Detroit, Jason Grilli (1-2) took the loss.

"We're playing just good enough to get beat," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Joaquin Benoit (1-1) got the win for Texas, and Akinori Otsuka pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Jason Giambi homered twice and drove in five runs, hitting a solo shot to lead off the 10th to help visiting New York extend its lead in the AL East to a season-high 5½ games.Jorge Posada also homered in the 10th for the Yankees, who have beaten Boston in four straight this weekend and eight of the last nine.New York trailed 5-3 after seven and 5-4 after eight before sending it into extras when Melky Cabrera doubled to lead off the ninth and scored on Derek Jeter's two-out flare to right. Craig Hansen (1-1) gave up three runs on three hits for Boston.Mariano Rivera (5-5) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam after giving up a leadoff double in the ninth to David Ortiz, who hit his major league-leading 44th homer in the fourth. Rivera pitched a scoreless 10th, getting Ortiz to fly out meekly to end it.