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Here’s what matters: The White Sox are still in first place. In fact, by splitting a day-night doubleheader with the Tigers while the Twins were losing to the Rays, the Sox picked up half a game on Minnesota to extend their lead to 1.5 games.

Here’s how they got there: In the first game, a 12-2 win, Mark Buehrle turned in another masterly performance by throwing 7.2 innings of two-run, seven-hit ball. Combined with some hot bats for the Good Guys, that was enough to rest the high-leverage guys in the bullpen and allow Scott Linebrink to make what’s becoming an increasingly rare performance. Liner didn’t disappoint, finishing up the game without allowing a run.

The bats were hot again, as the Sox pounded Tiger pitching for 15 hits. Every spot in the order contributed at least one, although it took Dayan Viciedo’s home run pinch-hitting for Omar Vizquel to preserve the honor of the two hole. Alexei Ramirez really shone by going 4 for 5, and Alex Rios and Juan Pierre each had two hits and joined Viciedo by hitting homers. For Pierre, who also doubled, it was his first dinger in 809 at bats.

As my Dad says, the Sox should have saved some of that firepower for the nightcap. Under the lights, they were able to manage only one run, Paul Konerko’s 26th home run. But it hardly mattered how little they scored because Carlos Torres – called up to take Daniel Hudson’s spot in the rotation (what’s the matter with Edwin Jackson?) – gave up five runs on nine hits. At least he lasted six innings. Sergio Santos, Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz, and Bobby Jenks sat out again, as Linebrink pulled double duty for the day, this time pitching a perfect seventh inning, and Tony “The Game’s Out of Reach” Pena mopped up, somewhat sloppily – two runs, one of them earned.

The doubleheader continued a trend for the Good Guys. The team’s record during day games is now 22-12, a .647 winning percentage or a 105-win pace. After dark, the club is 38-34, a .528 winning percentage or an 85-win pace. Maybe the wrong Chicago team is playing most of their games in daylight. The Pale Hose need to Take Back the Night. Go Sox!