Manager Ozzie Guillen's pre-second half meeting Thursday reminded his White Sox players how they rebounded from.

A 9 1/2-game deficit to move into first place while enduring criticism over their terrible start amid the threat of breaking up the team.

"If we go to the playoffs, it will be most satisfying year I have had in seven years with this ballclub," Guillen said before the game.

"This one will be more exciting than the two playoffs (years) for me." The Sox didn't lack for entertainment in stretching their lead in.

The American League Central to one game over the idle Tigers. After blowing a four-run lead, the Sox rallied for an 8-7 victory over the rival Twins for their ninth consecutive triumph.


"(This) was a big win because they wanted to come out and send a message. We wanted to keep doing what we're doing," said A.J. Pierzynski, whose RBI double in the fifth gave the Sox the lead for good at 7-6.

John Danks (9-7) survived a six-run second inning to last six innings, retiring seven consecutive batters and nine of the last 10 he faced in an 111-pitch outing.

Although it was the first game of the traditional second half of the season, this had the tension of a late September showdown. Guillen hit all the right buttons, from succeeding on four hit-and-run plays in the first five innings to pulling J.J. Putz with a runner at third with two outs in the seventh in favor of Matt Thornton, who struck out Jason Kubel.

After Sergio Santos allowed three consecutive hits after two outs in the eighth, Guillen called on closer Bobby Jenks, who struck out Orlando Hudson.

In the ninth, Jenks fooled former teammate Jim Thome on a called third strike with the tying run at first to secure the victory, earn his 15th consecutive save and his 11th career save in which he pitched more than one inning.

"When you're up against those guys, you try to shut it down as quick as you can," Guillen said. "That's the only way you're going to beat them." The offense picked up the slack and showed no rustiness after the three-day All-Star break, quelling some of the need for a left-handed hitter.

Gordon Beckham continued to show signs of breaking out of his malaise with a home run in the second and an RBI single in the fourth "After I was sitting, I got a feel for my swing that I haven't had all year," Beckham said. "So that was what helped. It wasn't necessarily sitting on the bench that helped." Pierzynski, meanwhile, dismissed his brief exchange with Thome in the third.