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CHICAGO - Ozzie Guillen's homecoming was a winner Tuesday, thanks to an offense the White Sox figure will make them a contender.
Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead three-run homer to help struggling Esteban Loaiza get his second win, and the White Sox beat the Royals 12-5 in Guillen's Chicago debut as manager.
Guillen got a rousing ovation before the game, taking his cap off at home plate and waving to the crowd. The former shortstop spent 13 of his 16 major-league seasons with the White Sox until he left after the 1997 season. Now he's back to run the team, promising to make it fun.
"Coming back to Chicago and knowing how the people feel about me and how I feel about the people makes it easier."
Konerko, who got off to a dismal start a year ago in a disappointing season, connected in the fifth off Darrell May (0-2) after walks to Frank Thomas and Carlos Lee to make it 7-4.
BLUE JAYS 7, TIGERS 5: Josh Phelps broke a ninth-inning tie with a run-scoring single as visiting Toronto rallied. Terry Adams (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Toronto, while Justin Speier pitched the ninth for his first save.
Toronto trailed 5-4 after seven, but tied it in the eighth with the help of some faulty defense by Detroit.
Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman left with the lead after six strong innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.
A'S 10, RANGERS 9: Damian Miller had three hits, including a three-run homer, and visiting Oakland's big bats overcame a poor start by Barry Zito. While Zito (1-1) never trailed in his five innings, he squandered a 6-0 lead and the Athletics led by only a run before Miller's first homer made it 10-6 in the fourth.
Miller, hitting just .125 coming into the game, was 3-for-4, including a double. Eric Byrnes had three hits in his first start of the season and Jermaine Dye had a homer and a run-scoring double.
ANGELS 7, MARINERS 5: Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer, and Jose Guillen doubled in two runs to break a tie in the seventh to help Anaheim rally to win its home opener. With the rally monkey - their video mascot - making his season debut on the big screen and fans banging ThunderStix, the Angels came back from a 4-0 deficit.
BALTIMORE AT BOSTON, PPD.: The game was postponed because of rain. No makeup date was announced.