--RHP Gavin Floyd continued stepping up as a potential staff ace in his six innings of work on short rest. He improved to 7-2 with a 4.25 ERA over his last 13 starts. With the outing, Floyd is also now 4-0 with a 3.22 ERA lifetime against the Tigers. If the Sox do reach the postseason, Floyd has put himself into position to be one of the starters in the series with Tampa Bay, especially with the struggles of RHP Javier Vazquez.
--Manager Ozzie Guillen didn't make any friends last week after he ripped Twins RHP Nick Blackburn after the Sox lost to the hurler in the Metrodome. Guillen didn't shy away from it Monday night, knowing his team will face Blackburn again Tuesday. "I'll take my chances against him if he pitches the way he pitched against us last time," Guillen said. "He didn't pitch well. When you've got the bullpen warming up in the second inning ... we just don't approach him in the right way." --OF Nick Swisher was once again on the bench at the start of Monday's game, only getting the call as a defensive replacement late in the win. That likely will be his role again Tuesday, and longer if the Sox do make the postseason. According to manager Ozzie Guillen, Swisher played himself into that position.
--2B Alexei Ramirez hit his 21st homer of the season, and his fourth grand slam. He now holds the major league record for rookies with grand slams in a single season, and his total is the most by a Sox player since Albert Belle had four in 1997.
--Just in case White Sox fans wanted to thank someone for Tuesday's play-in game being at U.S. Cellular Field rather than in the house of horrors that is the Metrodome, thank Jake Hahn. It was assistant general manager Rick Hahn who won the coin toss for the Sox earlier this month, calling heads after his oldest son told him to pick heads the morning of the toss.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2-14 -- The Sox's record on turf over their last 16 games after Minnesota swept three games from them last week at the Metrodome. It was the second time this season the Twins swept them there.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Who wouldn't want speed? It's a rare commodity. But you put that team in this ballpark (U.S. Cellular Field), and you're going to have tough times. So I think you're always striving for a blend. And that's not going to change." -- GM Ken Williams, when asked if he would want to switch rosters with the Twins and their speedy lineup.
