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White Sox look to regain first place in AL Central

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:35 AM Cleveland (79-80) at Chi White Sox (86-72) 8:11 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Manager Ozzie Guillen claims his team fell asleep en route to surrendering its first-place lead in the American League Central to the Minnesota Twins. Consequently, the Chicago White Sox will need to wake up if they plan on playing in the postseason.

With four games to go, the White Sox look to reclaim their division lead in the opener of the regular season's final series against the Cleveland Indians on Friday.

"I'm not a quitter. I never will be," Guillen said to the Chicago Tribune. "I'll show up (Friday) with some enthusiasm. I might take a sleeping pill (Thursday). It won't be easy for me to sleep."

The White Sox snoozed while squandering a five-run lead before Alexi Casilla singled in the winning run in the 10th inning to give the Twins a 7-6 win on Thursday, vaulting them into first place in the American League Central Division.

The Twins (87-72) entered the three-game series needing a sweep to overtake the White Sox and that's what they got, capturing one-run wins in the final two games to take a half-game lead in the Central heading into the final weekend.

Chicago can only get in by winning the Central. Either the Tampa Bay Rays (96-63) or Boston Red Sox (94-65) will claim the wild-card spot.

John Danks (11-8, 3.20 ERA) takes the mound for the White Sox looking to capitalize on a solid breakout season at the most crucial of times. Though notching only one win in his last six starts, the 23-year-old lefthander has given up two runs over his last three.

Danks coughed up four runs and eight hits in four shoddy innings while facing the Indians on September 2, but has a 2.89 ERA in three starts against them this season.

Cleveland counters with rookie Scott Lewis (3-0, 1.42), who has sparkled in his first three major league outings. The 24-year-old lefthander has allowed three runs and 14 hits in 19 innings, striking out 14 and walking five.