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What's hotter than red hot?  White hot.  What's hotter than white hot?  White Sox Hot, that's what.  On the strength of their 15-5 slaughter of the Royals on Sunday, the Sox swept KC, completed their sixth-ever perfect homestand (7-0), extended their winning streak to eight games, and took over sole possession of first place for the first time this season.  We're Number One!  We're Number One!  Foam finger sales are booming.

The only thing hotter than the White Sox is Carlos Quentin.  Q smashed two more home runs -- a solo shot and a Grand Salami -- to boost his Big Fly total to 19 for the season.   During these seven games at the Cell, Q has six home runs, including three multi-homer games, 11 RBI, and a .538 batting average.  Over his last 16 games, Quentin is 18 for 49 (.367) and  has 11 four-baggers, and 24 RBI.

Q was not alone, however, in his hitting prowess on Sunday.  Omar Vizquel, Mark Kotsay, A.J. Pierzynski, Andruw Jones, Dayan Viciedo joined Q with two hits apiece, and Gordon Beckham led the way with three, as The Sox pounded out 18 hits in all.  Five of those hits were dingers, including four in the seven-run third inning.  Alex Rios, Q,  Jones (his 400th career blast), and Viciedo combined to tie the Sox record for homers in an inning.  (And they did this without Paul Konerko, who is resting up for the All-Star game, now that he's replacing Justin Morneau on the A.L. squad.)  The Sox have now hit 31 home runs in their last 17 games at the Cell contrasted with only two in their last 14 games on the road.

Daniel Hudson gave up five runs in his first start since replacing the injured Jake Peavy.  Tony Pena picked up his third win, not being charged with a run -- though he did let an inherited runner score.  Scott Linebrink and Bobby Jenks each threw one scoreless inning, with Jenks needing only six pitches -- all strikes -- to retire the side.

All we can say is Go Sox!