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Tuesday, it was the top of the order that led the White Sox over the Angels. Yesterday, it was the heart of the order that was responsible for the 6-2 win. The heart of the order and Gavin Floyd, that is.

Numbers three through six in the lineup were a combined 7 for 15, with five runs, five RBIs, three homers, and a double. Jim Thome led the charge, smashing two dingers over the left field wall. The blasts, Thome's, 19th and 20th of the season, raised his career total to 561 and left him only two behind Reggie Jackson, who is twelfth on the all-time list. Paul Konerko chipped in a tater of his own, No. 23 on the season. Jermaine Dye, who had some making up to do for a three-base error that resulted in the Angels taking the lead in the first inning, had a hit and scored a run. A.J. Pierzynski went 2 for 4 to raise his average to .313 (behind only Gordon Beckham, who doubled and scored a run) and crossed the plate one time.

Floyd continued his stretch of fine pitching at the Cell by throwing eight innings of six-hit, two-run (only one of them earned), six-strikeout, one-walk ball. Ozzie left him in to pitch out of a jam in the eighth and Floyd struck out Bobby Abreu to get out of the inning. After putting two men on in the ninth, Oz brought in Matt Thornton to finish the game. Thornton allowed one man to score, but gave up no runs or hits of his own, and Floyd collected his ninth win against six losses. Floyd's going deep into the game was critical, as the Sox bullpen was depleted after Tuesday's game. D.J. Carrasco' four innings meant he wasn't going to pitch last night, and Bobby Jenks was still out with kidney stone problems. They finally "blasted" them -- we're assuming ultrasound rather than dynamite -- and he's supposed to be available no later than Friday.

The Sox improved to 41-14 when getting a Quality Start, 28-12 when hitting multiple homers, 51-15 when scoring four or more runs, 40-9 when holding the opposition to fewer than four runs, 44-9 when outhitting the opponent, and 31-8 when getting double-digit hits. In other words, they pushed all the right buttons to get a W.

The win sewed up the seventh series in a row at home for the Sox, who remained one game behind victorious Detroit. Minnesota lost, so the Sox stretched their lead over the Twins to 2.5 games. It's getaway day for the Angels, so today's game is an afternoon affair. John Danks faces off against Ervin Santana, and Danks has a better record and ERA. Let's hope that translates into a win and a sweep of the A.L. West leader. Go Sox!