The last time Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox opened a season with a 13-4 record was 1935. But after thrashing the Kansas City Royals 8-2 Friday night, the White Sox stretched their winning streak to five games and now own the best record in baseball.
In other American League games, Jay Gibbons drove in five runs and Baltimore batters clubbed four home runs as the Orioles crushed the Toronto Blue Jays, 13-5, after trailing in the eighth inning. Tampa Bay pinch-hitter Eduardo Perez smacked the first pitch he saw for a walk-off home run in the ninth inning as the Devil Rays stunned the Boston Red Sox, 5-4. Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez did the same for the Tigers when his walk-off homer in the tenth pushed Detroit past the Minnesota Twins, 5-4.
The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees, 5-3, the Oakland Athletics edged the Los Angeles Angels, 4-3, and the Seattle Mariners fell to the Cleveland Indians, 6-1.
In National League games, New York pitcher Tom Glavine gave up just two hits in seven strong innings and got his first win of the season as the Mets topped the Washington Nationals, 3-1. Atlanta pitcher Mike Hampton came within one out of a complete-game victory before getting some relief help as the Braves dropped the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2.
The Florida Marlins took over first place in the National League East with a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The St. Louis Cardinals outscored the Houston Astros, 8-7, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angels Dodgers, 9-1, in a 16-hit attack.
The Milwaukee Brewers overpowered the San Francisco Giants, 6-1, and the San Diego Padres fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3.