ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Saunders and the Los Angeles Angels both got their seasons back on track in the same afternoon.

And as usual around the Angels, Torii Hunter had something to do with every positive development.

Hunter hit an early two-run homer, Saunders pitched five effective innings in his return to the rotation and Los Angeles snapped its three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers yesterday.

Hunter, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, claims he threw a tantrum over his AL West-leading team's slump of five losses in six games.

"I was just hoping the guys were upset, because I was upset," Hunter said. "We have a pretty good team. Traveling back from the East Coast (last Sunday), we were just trying to find our way, but we were able to capitalize on their mistakes."

Hunter's first-inning shot off Edwin Jackson (10-6), his 18th of the season, provided a valuable cushion for Saunders (10-7), who looked cool in the 97-degree Orange County heat while making his first start since Aug. 7. He allowed two runs and four hits while striking out six.

"It was nice to be able to throw the ball without any hint of tightness," Saunders said. "My arm was free, and I just let it go."

Indians 4, Royals 2: Grady Sizemore scored three runs and David Huff (8-7), one of nine Indians riding a bus that was hit by a car on the way to the stadium, allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings to help visiting Cleveland beat Kansas City. No one was hurt in the accident.

Yankees 9, Rangers 2: Jorge Posada hit a three-run homer, and Andy Pettitte (11-6) allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings to win his third straight decision as New York romped past Texas. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira each drove in a pair of runs, and Jerry Hairston Jr. added a solo homer for the Yankees.

Red Sox 3, White Sox 2: David Ortiz curled his second homer of the game around the Pesky Pole with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Boston over Chicago. It was Ortiz's 10th career game-ending homer and a franchise-record ninth with the Red Sox. Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx had eight.

Orioles 5, Twins 1: Jeremy Guthrie (9-12) won his second straight start, allowing six hits and one run in seven innings, and Felix Pie homered to help visiting Baltimore end Minnesota's season-high five-game winning streak.

Blue Jays 3, Rays 2: After Rod Barajas hit a tying pinch-hit homer off J.P. Howell (6-4) with one out in the ninth, Marco Scutaro scored the winning run on a wild pitch after Howell loaded the bases with three walks, as host Toronto beat Tampa Bay in a game in which two umpires were injured.

Mariners 5, Athletics 3: Jose Lopez homered, newly acquired Bill Hall drove in two runs and Luke French (4-3) gave up three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings for Seattle. Relievers Miguel Batista, Mark Lowe and David Aardsma kept Oakland scoreless over the final 4 1/3 innings.