Crisp has just 57 home runs in 786 career games - but he's connected nine times in only 65 games against the White Sox.

"I was just trying to get a pitch where I could get a base hit," Crisp said. "I was actually looking away and I just kind of reacted. That's what usually happens when you let your reactions work for you. Good things happen."

Alberto Callaspo doubled with one out and Crisp hit the next pitch off Bobby Jenks (0-1) for his first home run of the season.

"It was a cutter that didn't cut," Jenks said. "It happens from time to time. He was looking in, and the location was in but it didn't cut the way I wanted it to, off the plate."

Held to just three singles over eight innings, the White Sox tried to rally in the ninth.

Carlos Quentin led off with a double against Joakim Soria, moved up on a grounder and scored on Jermaine Dye's groundout. Paul Konerko walked on four pitches before an error by third baseman Alex Gordon on Alexei Ramirez's grounder put Chicago in good position, but Soria struck out pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit for his second save.

"This team fights," Konerko said. "We always come back the next day."

Royals starter Kyle Davies matched his career high with eight strikeouts. He gave up three hits in seven innings, and retired 11 straight batters in the middle frames.

"He's on the same roll that he finished August with, and went through September with," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Very impressive."

Ron Mahay (1-0) pitched the eighth and got the win in a series that was defined by pitching. The three Royals starters gave up one earned run while striking out 21 in 20 innings.

"I'm not the type guy who gives credit to people who don't earn it, but they pitched good," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They pitched real well."

Guillen tried to shake up his lineup, moving leadoff hitter Dewayne Wise to the eighth spot and rookie Chris Getz to the top. Wise was hitless his first two games with four strikeouts, and went 0-for-2 on Thursday. Getz went 0-for-4, reaching on a fielder's choice in the eighth.

"I wish whoever I put in the leadoff spot will do their job, because I'm tired of the same questions," Guillen said. "I've been answering the same questions since spring training."

Yankees 11, Orioles 2

At Baltimore, A.J. Burnett won in his Yankees debut and fellow newcomers Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher homered as New York won its first game of the season.

Burnett (1-0) allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings and Swisher matched a career high with five RBIs. Robinson Cano homered and scored four runs for the Yankees.

Alfredo Simon (0-1) was charged with four runs in five-plus innings for Baltimore.

Rangers 12, Indians 8

At Arlington, Texas, Marlon Byrd and Ian Kinsler homered and the Rangers completed a season-opening series sweep to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 1996.

Byrd's homer was a three-run shot that capped a five-run first off Carl Pavano (0-1), making his first start for Cleveland after being a free-agent bust with the Yankees the past four seasons. Byrd matched a career high with five RBIs.

Cleveland hit five home runs, including two by Grady Sizemore, but couldn't rally from an early 9-1 deficit. Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and Kelly Shoppach also homered for Cleveland.

Brandon McCarthy (1-0) struck out seven in his five innings. Pavano retired only three of the 12 batters he faced.

Rays 4, Red Sox 3

At Boston, Matt Garza pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Tampa Bay hit three homers off Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the defending AL champs won their opening three-game series.

Garza (1-0) allowed one run and improved to 6-1 against the Red Sox.

Matsuzaka (0-1) went 5 1-3 innings, and the three homers matched his career high.

Blue Jays 6, Tigers 2

At Toronto, Ricky Romero outpitched Rick Porcello in the first matchup of former first-round draft picks making their major league debuts against each other.

Romero (1-0) was the No. 6 pick in the 2005 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton, while Porcello (0-1) was the 27th overall pick in 2007.

Mariners 2, Twins 0

At Minneapolis, Jarrod Washburn gave up five hits in eight innings and Brandon Morrow got his first save of the season for the Mariners.

Washburn (1-0) struck out four with just one walk in his first victory since July 27.

Glen Perkins (0-1) gave up just one run and five hits in eight innings.