Floyd (10-11) allowed Boston’s only run of the second game on a single in the fifth inning by Marco Scutaro , who also drove in Boston’s only run of the opener. John Lackey (12-9) gave up just one run on two hits through six innings then was hurt by a throwing error by center fielder Ryan Kalish in a two-run seventh when Chicago went ahead 3-1.
Bobby Jenks got the save in both games, giving him 27 in 31 opportunities.
The White Sox extended their winning streak to five games and gained a half-game in the AL Central. They trail division leader Minnesota, which beat the Texas Rangers 12-4, by 3 1/2 games.
Manny Ramirez, in his first games against his former team since joining Chicago on waivers Tuesday, went 2 for 4 in the first game and 1 for 4 with two strikeouts and a soft lined single to right in his last at bat in the second.
In New York, Marcus Thames launched a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays to set a season high with their eighth straight victory.
Robinson Cano had a two-run single and New York, still missing injured sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher , overcame a shaky return to the rotation for Javier Vazquez , who was yanked in the fifth.
With the best record in baseball but only a slim lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay, the Yankees won for the 14th time in 18 games and improved to 6-0 on their 10-game homestand.
Jason Frasor (3-4) retired his first two batters in the seventh before Cano singled. Thames drove an 0-1 pitch to the back of the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left-center for his 11th home run, snapping a 1-for-14 skid.
In Oakland, California, Trevor Cahill pitched six scoreless innings to become Oakland’s first 15-game winner in three years with a victory over the Angels.
Mark Ellis , Daric Barton and Cliff Pennington all drove in runs for Oakland, which won its second straight following a four-game losing streak.
Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, who have lost nine of 12.
Cahill (15-6) gave up just four hits, all singles, but walked a career-high six. The right-hander, who has won six of his last eight starts, allowed only one runner past second.
Jared Weaver (11-11) walked three and allowed six hits in seven innings. He is winless since Aug. 6, a span of five starts.
In Minneapolis, Jim Thome homered twice for Minnesota, moving past Mark McGwire for ninth place on baseball’s all-time list and powering the Twins over the Rangers.
Thome went deep for the 583rd time in his career leading off the third inning, a shot to the second deck above right field estimated at 449 feet. Then with two on and two outs in the fourth, Thome’s full-count drive into the bullpen behind left-center made it 9-0 and gave him No. 584.
After six straight one-run games, the Twins let loose against slumping starter Colby Lewis (9-12) and the AL West-leading Rangers. Minnesota gave Carl Pavano (16-10) plenty of support and kept its AL Central lead over Chicago at four games for the moment.
In Baltimore, Nick Markakis homered and scored twice to back an effective pitching performance by Jeremy Guthrie , and the Orioles beat the Rays to provide manager Buck Showalter with his 900th career win.
Matt Wieters and Felix Pie each had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who broke a three-game skid. Showalter became the 64th manager in big league history to win 900 games and improved to 18-13 with Baltimore since his debut on Aug. 3.
Guthrie (9-13) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out seven. Since the All-Star break, he’s 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts.
John Jaso, Matt Joyce and Matt Hawpe hit solo homers for Tampa Bay, which dropped 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.
In Kansas City, Missouri, Austin Jackson hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning for his third hit of the game and the Tigers beat the Royals.
Jackson also hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Tigers (68-68), who have won three straight to reach .500 for the first time since Aug. 24.
Rick Porcello (8-11) pitched seven innings to earn the win and Jose Valverde worked the ninth for his 25th save in 28 opportunities.
In Seattle, Mitch Talbot pitched into the seventh inning to help Cleveland get the victory.
Talbot (9-11) allowed an unearned run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings to pick up his first win since June 27. The right-hander was 0-5 with a 6.23 ERA in his previous nine starts.
Chris Perez got four outs for his 18th save of the season.
Michael Brantley and Shin Soo-Choo each had two hits and drove in a run for the Indians. Travis Hafner and Asdrubal Cabrera had RBI singles.
Russell Branyan homered for Seattle. David Pauley (2-7) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings.