"The biggest hurdle — a one-game deficit in the American League Central — awaits the White Sox following their 5-3 comeback win over the Rangers on Sunday night.

"Every day gets tougher," manager Ozzie Guillen said following Alexei Ramirez's two-run home run in the sixth inning that offset the loss of valuable third baseman Omar Vizquel to a left knee bruise.

"But it's fun. You come to the park for something."

The Sox (42-38) are one game out of first place for the first time since they were one-half game out on April 7. There was ample satisfaction after the pitching staff held Texas' formidable offense to nine runs in three games and cut their division deficit by 81/2 cq games since June 9.

"It's big," said Mark Buehrle, who earned his fourth win in his last five starts. "We've been battling, and Minnesota hasn't been playing that good. Detroit has been back and forth. To get that close to where we were at three weeks ago is a huge step for us."

Vizquel, who batted .278 in June in place of injured Mark Teahen, was hit by a pitch from Scott Feldman in the third. X-rays were negative, but Guillen believed Vizquel would miss the next few games against the Los Angeles Angels."