MINNEAPOLIS — Ron Gardenhire isn't a huge fan of hip hop, and he probably wouldn't recognize Daddy Yankee if the Puerto Rican rapper came up and shook the Twins manager's hand.

But Gardenhire has learned to love "Gasolina."

Johan Santana blares the tune before every home start he makes, and a win is sure to follow.

Santana held the White Sox offense to one run in seven innings and Michael Cuddyer had two hits and two RBIs in Minnesota's 7-3 victory over the White Sox yesterday, cutting Chicago's lead to one game in the AL wild-card race.

"That's a song we love to hear," Gardenhire said. "That means Santana is pitching."

Santana (15-5) hasn't lost at the Metrodome 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 yesterday 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 as the Twins took two of three in the weekend series.

"I feel much better now," said Santana, who has been receiving light therapy and medication on his middle finger for a few weeks. "I didn't really worry about that. ... We cannot afford to lose games to these guys."

YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5: Jason Giambi homered twice and drove in five runs, hitting a solo shot to lead off the 10th inning to help visiting New York over Boston, and extend the Yankees' lead in the AL East to a season-high 5 1/2 games. Jorge Posada also homered in the 10th for the Yankees, who have beaten Boston in four straight this weekend and eight of the past nine.

RANGERS 7, TIGERS 6: Hank Blalock hit a tiebreaking single in the sixth and Gary Matthews' throw to the plate protected the lead in the next inning as visiting Texas held on after overcoming a six-run deficit to Detroit, sending the Tigers to their ninth loss in 12 games.

INDIANS 9, DEVIL RAYS 4: Jhonny Peralta hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Travis Hafner homered in his third straight game to help Cleveland beat host Tampa Bay.

BLUE JAYS 9, ORIOLES 2: Roy Halladay (16-3) allowed two runs, four hits and a walk in seven innings to earn his major league-leading 16th win, and Toronto hit three homers to salvage the finale of a three-game series against host Baltimore.

ATHLETICS 6, ROYALS 4: Nick Swisher hit a two-run home run and Kirk Saarloos (6-6) got his third straight victory, leading surging Oakland past host Kansas City. The AL-West leading A's split the four-game series and have won eight of their past 10.

ANGELS 3, MARINERS 2: Chone Figgins singled home the winning run in the ninth inning as host Los Angeles sent Seattle to its 11th straight loss. Reggie Willits led off the ninth with a single against J.J. Putz (2-1), advanced on Jose Molina's sacrifice bunt and came home when Figgins singled to left.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 5, GIANTS 2: Derek Lowe (11-8) allowed five hits in eight-plus innings, and J.D. Drew and Nomar Garciaparra each hit two-run homers to lead visiting Los Angeles, which has gone 19-3 over its last 22 games.

ASTROS 3, BREWERS 1: Houston's Roger Clemens (5-4) struck out seven in seven innings to get his 346th career win as the visiting Astros defeated the Brewers. Clemens gave up six hits and one run to improve to 3-0 with a no-decision in his past four starts.

PADRES 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1: Mike Cameron singled in the winning run in the 10th inning and Brian Giles had four hits for the host Padres who moved into a second-place tie with Arizona in the NL West at 62-62, four games behind first-place Los Angeles.

CARDINALS 5, CUBS 3: Chris Carpenter (12-6) allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings to win his second straight start and Chris Duncan homered for the third consecutive game as visiting St. Louis defeated Chicago.

PHILLIES 12, NATIONALS 10: Abraham Nunez homered and tied a career high with four RBIs and Aaron Rowand went 4 for 5 as host Philadelphia won two straight and remained 2 1/2 games back of Cincinnati in the NL wild-card race.

MARLINS 4, BRAVES 3: Dontrelle Willis (8-10) allowed four hits and three runs — two earned — in seven innings, and Wes Helms, pinch hitting for Willis, tripled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh as host Miami averted a series sweep by beating Atlanta.

METS 2, ROCKIES 0: Orlando Hernandez (9-9) struck out eight in six innings, and Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran homered as host New York completed a three-game sweep of Colorado.

REDS 5, PIRATES 1: Adam Dunn and Scott Hatteberg homered in a four-run third inning, and Aaron Harang (13-8) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts as host Cincinnati won two of three in the weekend series.

NOTES

Mets: New York pitcher Tom Glavine said his pitching shoulder is being examined for a possible blood clot yesterday. Glavine felt coldness in his left ring finger after his start Wednesday in Philadelphia. Depending on tests in the next few days, the 40-year-old could return to the mound as soon as next weekend or require surgery.

Athletics: Oakland closer Huston Street was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a strained right groin and manager Ken Macha said it was unsure when he might return. The A's called up left-hander Ron Flores from Triple-A Sacramento to take Street's roster spot.

Reds: Cincinnati left-hander Eddie Guardado was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with tendinitis in his left forearm and activated righty Matt Belisle from the 15-day disabled list.

Indians: Relief pitcher Guillermo Mota was traded to the New York Mets by Cleveland for a player to be named.

Tigers: Detroit acquired infielder Neifi Perez from the Chicago Cubs for minor league catcher Chris Robinson.