Esteban Loaiza is starting to show that his career year in 2003 was no fluke.

The Cy Young Award runner-up allowed two hits and struck out nine in eight innings to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers Wednesday.

Loaiza (6-3), 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA last season, has pitched at least seven innings in four straight starts and has a 3.19 ERA over that span.

"The way I felt today was the way I felt last year when I was pitching," he said. "My velocity is back. I was looking at the video after the game and my last inning I was throwing 94, 95."

The right-hander struck out Alfonso Soriano in the fourth inning for his 1,000th career strikeout and struck out the side in the fifth. He retired eight straight batters between the fifth and seventh innings.

Hank Blalock went 0-for-3 against Loaiza and had a tough time figuring him out.

"He made quality pitches. He changed speeds and worked different parts of the zone. I didn't see too many pitches against him. I swung early," said Blalock.

Loaiza kept Texas hitters off-balance by mixing up his changeup and cutter.

"I want to be the same guy from last year," Loaiza said.

Miguel Olivo and Frank Thomas hit solo homers for Chicago and Carlos Lee drove in two runs to back Loaiza.

Thomas hit his 427th career home run leading off the third. It was his 10th of the season.

At Baltimore, Gary Sheffield went 4-for-5 with a homer and six RBIs, and New York handed Baltimore its sixth straight loss.The Yankees blew a 7-3 lead by allowing six runs in the sixth, then rallied against the Baltimore bullpen in the seventh.B.J. Ryan (1-2) took the loss for Baltimore as the Yankees scored five in the seventh to take the lead for good.Tanyon Sturtze (1-0) earned his first win with New York, and Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 16th save.

At Boston, Jason Varitek hit a three-run homer and Boston took advantage of shortstop Bobby Crosby's rare error to beat Oakland.Derek Lowe (4-4) allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings, leading the Red Sox to their fifth straight win and ninth in 11 games.Keith Foulke pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save in as many chances. It was his first appearance against the A's since leaving them and signing with Boston as a free agent after last season.Mark Redman (3-3) allowed Varitek's home run.

At Toronto, Vernon Wells and Gregg Zaun hit run-scoring singles in the ninth inning off Troy Percival, rallying Toronto past Anaheim.Percival (2-1) blew a save for the fourth time in 16 chances.Terry Adams (4-3) pitched two shutout innings for the Blue Jays, who had lost four of their previous five games.Carlos Delgado and Wells homered for Toronto.

At Kansas City, Mo., Matt Stairs and Mike Sweeney hit two-run homers, powering Kansas City past Detroit.Kansas City starter Darrell May (2-6) gave up three runs and a season-high 10 hits in 7 2-3 innings.Gary Knotts (1-1) gave up five runs in five innings.

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Jacque Jones had a go-ahead, two-run double and Minnesota snapped Tampa Bay's longest winning streak in four seasons at five games.Starter Seth Greisinger (2-3) allowed two runs and six hits over five innings. Nathan worked the ninth for his 14th save in 15 opportunities.Rob Bell (0-2) gave up three runs and four hits in 4 1-3 innings.

At Cleveland, Ichiro Suzuki had four hits, including a home run, and Jamie Moyer (3-2) and Seattle sent Cleveland to its season-high seventh straight loss.Seattle's Edgar Martinez hit his 236th homer as a designated hitter, passing Harold Baines as the all-time leader among DHs.Raul Ibanez also homered as the Mariners roughed up C.C. Sabathia (2-3).