75

I don't know about you, but I thought the All-Star break came at the worst possible time for the White Sox.  The Sox had won eight in a row and 25 of their last 30 games when they were forced to shut it down for three days, risking the end of the best roll they've been on since August 27 to September 27, 1983, when they also put together a 25-5 mark.  So it was a relief when the Good Guys pulled out an 8-7 victory over the Twins at Target Field last night.

John Danks didn't have his best stuff -- at least, he didn't in the second inning, when he gave up six runs to turn a 4-0 lead into a 6-4 deficit.  But these White Hot Sox don't quit.  They came back behind a robust hitting performance and a balk to even their 2010 record against the Twins and improve their all-time mark at Target Field to 2-1.  Every Sox batter except Carlos Quentin collected a hit, with Juan Pierre leading the way -- he is the leadoff man, after all -- with three safeties.  Omar Vizquel and Alex Rios, who follow Pierre in the order, and Gordon Beckham, who precedes him, each notched two hits, as did Mark Kotsay.  Even Q managed to get on base twice by coaxing a walk and being hit by a pitch -- again.

The bullpen preserved the win for Danks (9-7).  J.J. Putz gave up no runs in his two-thirds of an inning, the 23rd consecutive appearance he's blanked the opposition, covering 23.2 scoreless frames.  During the streak, opponents are hitting .130 (10 for 77), and Putz has given up only three walks, while striking out 24.  All-Star (goat) Matt Thornton struck out the only man he faced; Sergio Santos didn't allow a run in 0.2 innings (though he did give up three hits); and Bobby Jenks picked up his 15th save in a row and 20th overall with a rare extended performance that lasted 1.1 innings.

The win moves the Sox a full game ahead of the Tigers and 4.5 in front of the Twins in the Central Division race.  By the way, this is the 11th time the Sox have been in first place at the All-Star break.  Five of the other times, they have gone on to play in the post-season -- 1959, 1993, 2000, 2005, and 2008.  Ten of the 15 teams to lead the Central Division at the break have made the playoffs.  As the Magic Eight Ball would say, "All signs point to yes."  Go Sox!