"Jake Peavy returned to his dominant form Sunday.

Thanks to an adjustment in his batting stance, Alex Rios continued his mini-renaissance.

Now only if Adam Dunn could get untracked — which might not occur for a few more games — the White Sox might have a long-awaited winning streak in them to push toward the top of the American League Central.

"We're going to grind this thing out," Peavy said after he threw eight shutout innings and was supported by four home runs in a 7-0 victory over the Twins that capped the Sox's first three-game sweep in Minnesota since June 29-July 1, 2004. "It's a testament to Rios and these guys who have not mailed it in."

The Sox cut their deficit to 5½ games behind the Tigers.

Nevertheless, "we know we got to make a hard push," Peavy said after the Sox won their fifth consecutive road game before heading to Baltimore for a four-game series.

Peavy appreciated the early run support as well as four home runs that highlighted a 12-hit attack. Rios had an RBI double and a solo homer — his first homer since June 19, covering a span of 132 at-bats — and is 5-for-8 since adjusting his batting stance by raising his hands.

"I'm just trying to feel comfortable, feel good at the plate," said Rios, whose average is .215. "I'm not thinking about anything else besides having a good feeling and going after the ball."

The Sox suffered no drop-off at first base, as Brent Lillibridge went 2-for-4 with his ninth homer while starting in place of Dunn."