CHICAGO — This is not how the Chicago White Sox envisioned the final week of what had been such a successful season.

They've lost five straight, played ugly baseball along the way, fallen out of first and then failed to take advantage of two straight opportunities to re-claim the top spot in the AL Central.

"I don't know how to describe it — lucky?" manager Ozzie Guillen said after yesterday's 12-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Lucky from the standpoint that somehow, despite the collapse, the White Sox are still alive entering the final day of the regular season.

The Indians got seven strong innings from Zach Jackson (2-3) and a three-run double from Asdrubal Cabrera off struggling Javier Vazquez (12-16) to keep the White Sox a half-game behind the Twins in the AL Central.

The Twins, who lost at home to the Royals for a second straight day to give the White Sox a chance to go back into first, can win the division title today. To do it, Minnesota has to beat the Royals while the White Sox lose again to the Indians.

If the margin stays at a half-game after today, the White Sox will play Detroit tomorrow in a makeup game at U.S. Cellular Field. Should the White Sox and Twins end up tied, they would meet in a one-game tiebreaker Tuesday — also in Chicago.

"I think the best thing is just to say after 160 games we still control our own destiny if we win — as hard as that is to say because we don't look like a winning team right now," said first baseman Paul Konerko, who homered twice.

The White Sox got a break when Indians ace Cliff Lee, a 22-game winner, was scratched from his final start today because of a stiff neck. He'll be replaced by Bryan Bullington.

The Indians put the game away with four in the ninth off Chicago's beleaguered bullpen.

Royals 4, Twins 2: Ryan Shealy blooped a two-run single to give visiting Kansas City the lead in the seventh inning, and the surging Royals handed Minnesota a second straight defeat.

Twins reliever Matt Guerrier (6-9) gave up consecutive singles to start the seventh and Shealy's bloop over a diving Justin Morneau down the first-base line drove in two to make it 4-2 Royals.

Tigers 4, Rays 3: Miguel Cabrera homered and Dontrelle Willis had his best outing of a lost season, helping host Detroit beat Tampa Bay.

Willis allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Aquilino Lopez (4-1) earned the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1: Baltimore ended its 10-game losing streak, using a fine pitching performance by Brian Bass to beat Toronto in a game called after 6 1/2 innings because of rain.

Bass (4-4) allowed one run and three hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked none.

Mariners 7, Athletics 3: Kenji Johjima hit a three-run homer during a six-run first inning, and host Seattle beat Oakland. Ryan Rowland-Smith (5-3) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Mariners.

Sean Green allowed one hit over the final 2 1/3 innings for his first career save.

Rangers 8, Angels 4: Josh Hamilton overtook Justin Morneau for the AL RBI lead, Nelson Cruz and Chris Davis hit consecutive home runs, and visiting Texas set a major league single-season record for doubles (375).

Hamilton's two-run single during a four-run sixth increased Texas' lead to 8-1. He has 130 RBIs, one more than Morneau.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 7, Brewers 3: Ben Sheets was roughed up in his return from an injury, and visiting Chicago beat Milwaukee.

Sheets (13-9) tried to put aside nagging elbow soreness to make his first start since Sept. 17, but gave up four runs in only 2 1/3 innings against the Cubs.

Chicago's Ted Lilly (17-9) held the Brewers hitless until Ryan Braun led off the seventh with a double.

Mets 2, Marlins 0: Johan Santana pitched a three-hitter on short rest, leading host New York over Florida and a tie in the NL wild-card race.

Santana (16-7) gave the Mets just their third win in eight games. He walked three and struck out nine.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 4: Stephen Drew's two-run single in the eighth inning off Manny Corpas (3-4) gave host Arizona the win, but too late for Brandon Webb to earn his 23rd win.

Brandon Lyon (3-5) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Chad Qualls got three outs in the ninth for his ninth save in 17 chances.

Cardinals 8, Reds 5: Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run and reached 100 runs for the seventh time in his first eight seasons for host St. Louis.

Todd Wellemeyer (13-9) pitched into the seventh inning and Troy Glaus' two-run homer left him two RBIs shy of 100 for the Cardinals.

Padres 3, Pirates 2: Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Chris Young pitched six strong innings to lead host San Diego.

Young (7-6) held the Pirates to one run and five hits while striking out five and walking none.

Dodgers 2, Giants 1: Blake DeWitt hit a solo homer and singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning for visiting Los Angeles to give Greg Maddux his 355th career victory.

Maddux (8-13) allowed two hits and one run in six efficient innings, throwing 47 pitches.

Braves 11, Astros 5: Josh Anderson hit two home runs and Jeff Francoeur drove in three runs with a pair of doubles to help visiting Atlanta to a win.

The Braves jumped to a 9-0 lead after their first two at-bats.