23 (8*)

Now, that's more like it. The White Sox finally put together good pitching and timely hitting to avoid the sweep in Cleveland.

Javier Vazquez contributed a Quality Start, scattering five hits over six innings and allowing only two runs. The secret to his success? The same as in real estate: location, location, location. Vazquez threw 74 strikes in his 108 pitches, whiffing five and walking only one.

The usual suspects from the bullpen -- Octavio Dotel, Matt Thornton, and Bobby Jenks -- blanked the Indians in three innings of relief. Jenks worked hard for his 28th save, pitching 1.2 innings. As Sox fans know, Big Bobby normally tosses only the ninth inning, but given the importance of yesterday's game, Ozzie threw caution to the wind (it was only 1 mph from left to right) and brought his closer in to work out of a first-and-third, no-out jam in the eighth. Jenks threw two pitches, the second resulting in an inning-ending double play. After giving up a hit in the ninth, Jenks induced another double play and posted a strikeout to end the game. All told, Jenks threw only 10 pitches, eight of them strikes, and won't be called on to pitch today since the team has the day off.

At bat, every Sox starter except for Juan Uribe and Toby Hall got a hit. And after going two games without the long ball, the Sox hit two. Nick Swisher yanked his 23rd home run to left field in the fifth inning. Alexei Ramirez followed suit one inning later, blasting his 16th homer, a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left. The two dingers pushed the Sox across the 200 mark (201) for the season, the first team in the majors to cross that threshold.

The Sox won without Joe Crede (throbbing in lower back), Ken Griffey Jr. (tightness in lower back), and Carlos Quentin (sore right forearm). Q is not expected back until the Toronto series next week at the earliest, but maybe he'll surprise us. Who knows when Crede will play again? And who cares if Junior does? The Update is still not a fan of that trade. One bright note on the injury front: Scott Linebrink did warm up in the bullpen, although he was not called upon to pitch.

With the 4-2 win and Minnesota's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Toronto, the Sox regained a one game lead on the Twins and cut their Magic Number to 23. The Sox are off today, while the Twinkies finish up with the Blue Jays. Go Sox! Go Jays!

*8 days left until our future grandson's due date. Daughter-in-law Kate is hanging in there, but is more than ready to be a Mom.