CHICAGO | Tuesday will go down as one of the all-time classics -- for both the White Sox and John Danks.
Nearly given up for dead after losing their fifth in a row on Saturday, the Sox completed a stirring three-game comeback to defeat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 and capture the American League Central title in the first tiebreaking game in franchise history.
The Sox joined the Cubs in the postseason, the first time since 1906 that both Chicago teams are in.
The centerpiece of the near-miracle that booked a date Thursday at Tampa Bay for Game 1 of the AL Division Series was lefty Danks. Pitching much older than his 23 years, Danks surely turned in one of the best clutch pitching performances in Sox annals this side of the 2005 World Series.
"I just went and pitched," a champagne-soaked Danks (12-9) said after he allowed just two hits in eight innings, celebrating with his teammates in both the locker room and on the field as 40,354 fans, the largest U.S.Cellular crowd since 2003, rocked the ballpark with unadulterated joy.
"I wasn't worrying about anything else," Danks added. "Hell, I just wanted to go win a game for this team and get us in the playoffs, and fortunately I was able to do that. This is a great feeling. I don't know how to describe this.
"My heart is still racing. This is awesome."
Danks displayed astounding endurance on three days' rest, reaching the eight-inning mark, in his 34th start, for only the second time this season.
"I felt fresh, I felt really good," said Danks, who could not have afforded one slip-up. Twins starter Nick Blackburn matched Danks with zeroes until Jim Thome led off the seventh with a 461-foot homer to center over the shrubbery into a mob of joyous fans.
"Blackburn pitched a great game," Danks said. "Tip your hat to him. I knew whoever made the first mistake was going to lose. Fortunately it was him and not me."
The spirit of the Sox was symbolized by a play involving A.J. Pierzynski, at the center of everything.
Michael Cuddyer got the first hit off Danks, a double, leading off the fifth and advanced to third on a fly ball. Brendan Harris lofted a fly ball to medium center, but Cuddyer was still sent home. Ken Griffey, Jr.'s throw arrived just ahead of Cuddyer, who ran over Pierzynski while he tagged out the runner. For good measure in typical Pierzynski style, he showed Cuddyer the ball in his glove as he popped to his feet.
"It was the play of the game for us," Danks said.
