Despite rusty El Duque, Sox win

Carl Everett knocked in two runs, none more important than Aaron Rowand (shown) on the game-winning sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. (Jeff Roberson/AP) Related Links

White Sox Ticket notes: Everett starts, Thomas sits Crede's glove keeping him afloat Tribe climbs back in, but falls Order Your 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets Now Tribe notes: Ludwick lands in Buffalo White Sox's four-run first: Crisp's three-run home run: Dye's RBI single:

White Sox notes: Only results matter Tickets Bullpen a bit taxed heading to Coors Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Arizona Diamondbacks Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins Tickets Chicago White Sox vs New York Yankees Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Kansas City Royals Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Los Angeles Angels Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Indians Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins Tickets Chicago WhiteSox Tickets fall to Tribe in extras Sox notes: Harris' days numbered? Big Hurt taking one day at a time More White Sox Headlines

Church the hero as Nationals sweep Marlins Interleague Play warms up for Round 2 Rogers leads Rangers back to first Astros' offense picks up Clemens Overturned call helps Phils stay hot More MLB Headlines

CHICAGO -- With Friday's 6-4 victory over the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox improved their Major League-best record to 36-18. But for the true key to reaching the postseason in 2005, take a look at the South Siders' accomplishments within the record. Their 18-7 ledger at home is impressive, as is the White Sox's 17-7 mark in games decided by one run and five wins in seven games when facing Cleveland (25-28).

"All season my control is not good, and I don't have an excuse for it," said Hernandez, who threw 58 of his 94 pitches for strikes. "The best part is no pain. I'm happy. Next time, I try for a little better."

"When you have the unbalanced schedule, those are the teams you have to beat," said designated hitter Carl Everett of his team's dominance against the Central. "We play them more than anyone.

"If you beat your division, it usually means you will win the division," Everett added.

Their 19-4 record against the American League Central, though, translates into getting the job done when the opponent has the greatest significance. It also leaves the White Sox behind only the Cardinals (20-4 against the National League Central) for the best team record against any single division.

"He's a competitor," added catcher 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets Chicago WhiteSox Tickets A.J. Pierzynski of El Duque. "He battles every pitch and every chance he gets. That's how he's successful. He really had one bad inning, and other than that, he was rock solid."

Relief work from Neal Cotts, who struck out three 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets over two hitless innings, and Dustin Hermanson sealed the White Sox's third victory in four games during this current six-game homestand. Cotts has allowed three runs in his last 16 outings, while Hermanson stayed perfect in 12 save opportunities. Chicago White Sox vs Kansas City Royals Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tickets

Perfection didn't come, though, without a little bit of a scare. Hermanson Chicago WhiteSox Tickets allowed a two-out single to pinch-hitter Jody Gerut, and then could only watch and wait as Grady Sizemore hit a backdoor slider deep to left as the game's tying run. Scott Podsednik hauled in the drive a few steps short of the wall.

"He hit it fairly well, just not well enough to leave," Pierzynski said. "He was the final out, so it was the best pitch all night."

"I wanted the guy to hit the other way, and he did," added Hermanson with a smile. "Fortunately, it was just short enough. It's a sigh of relief, but more importantly, it's a win."

The White Sox maintained their 3 1/2-game lead over Minnesota, which topped the Yankees by a 6-3 margin in the Metrodome. The two AL Central frontrunners won't meet again until Aug. 15 at U.S. Cellular, but there's good news for the South Siders if the race is still close in September. Chicago White Sox vs Oakland Athletics Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Boston Red Sox Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Tickets Chicago White Sox vs Seattle Mariners Tickets

Of the final 30 games, 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets all but three contests against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are against the Central. The White Sox's track record is impeccable in those head-to-head matchups.

"If you want to win the division, you have to play good against them,"  white sox baseball tickets  chicago white sox baseball tickets  whitesox tickets  chicago whitesox tickets  whitesox baseball  whitesox schedule  chicago whitesox baseball said Guillen, whose team matched the 1957 White Sox for the second-best start in franchise history. "That's what we are doing now, and hopefully we can keep it up later."

Everett, who turned 34 on Friday, came through on his birthday with two RBIs. He drove home Aaron Rowand in a four-run first inning against Jake Westbrook (2-8), with one of the team's season-high six singles in the frame. He also broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to right field, once again scoring Rowand, whose two hits extended his hitting streak to nine games.

Chicago White Sox Home Game Tickets Jermaine Dye followed with another single up the middle, his third hit, 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets and one of the  chicago white sox box office  1977 chicago white sox  chicago park sox white  2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets  white sox tickets White Sox's 10 singles out of their 11 hits.  white sox spring training tickets  buy 2008 Chicago White Sox Tickets  white sox game tickets  white sox tickets buy  white sox mlb tickets  white sox vs cubs tickets  white sox cubs tickets  white sox tickets cheap  white sox season tickets  whitesox  chicago whitesox Dye raised his average to .240 and improved his RBI total to 22.

 chicago white sox baseball schedule  home of the chicago white sox  chicago white sox world series  1983 chicago white sox "He is swinging the bat better and has more confidence," said manager Ozzie Guillen of Dye, who has three multi-hit games in his last four. "The way he is right now, he's going to keep it up longer.  chicago game schedule sox white  chicago white sox score  chicago white sox watch He faced a pretty good pitcher today and handled it well."

The consistent attack made a winner of Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez (6-1), who took to the mound for his first appearance in 17 days. The right-hander came off the disabled list to start Friday and reported no pain in his troublesome pitching shoulder after the victory.

In fact, Hernandez's only  chicago white sox .com  1959 chicago white sox  2005 chicago preview sox white  chicago white sox baseball hat  chicago white sox cap noticeable problem was shaking off a little rust caused by his prolonged absence. He walked one over six innings but hit four, the most by a White Sox pitcher since James Baldwin hit four on Aug. 17, 2000 at Baltimore.

Hernandez was staked to a four-run lead in the first, but gave it back completely in the third on Coco Crisp's three-run home run off the foul pole in right. The veteran settled down from that point on, with the intense competitor from within overriding the wild streak.

Baseball Prospectus rates Uribe's '06 performance at 2.6 wins, and his 2004 peak at 5.1 wins. Aside from giving up the farm for Miguel Tejada, the Sox could sign Julio Lugo or trade for Orlando Cabrera. It won't be easy if Williams tries to upgrade at short.

Crede's 2008 White Sox Tickets been doing one-year deals, and could go up to five or six million after arbitration. If he elects not to have 2008 White Sox Tickets back surgery, the team may be reluctant to ink him to a multiyear contract. Plenty of teams need a third basemen, so feel free to concoct wild trade scenarios and don't miss your opportunity for 2008 White Sox Tickets.

If the Sox do trade Crede, Josh Fields probably becomes the third baseman. He'd be a step down but might be able to get the job done following a .305/.379/.515 line in Charlotte. Fields did have a weak offensive second half for the Knights though. And you wouldn't want to replace both Crede and Uribe, as the left-side infield defense would be severely weakened.