"After the White Sox worked out their kinks during the first six innings, much like their troubles through the first two months of the regular season, they reverted to the form that has seen them hold onto first place since July 11.

Thanks to Alex Rios' clutch hitting and solid late-inning pitching, the Sox rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards to maintain their 1 1/2-game lead over the Twins in the American League Central.

Rios snapped out of a 1-for-16 slump when he singled to score Juan Pierre with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

The only twist was J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for the save in place of Bobby Jenks, whom manager Ozzie Guillen said has been bothered lately with a sore back and might need one or two games before Guillen will determine whether he will regain his closer role.

"I have to see how he throws the ball first," Guillen said of Jenks, who has a 10.56 ERA in the second half of the season. "That's how everyone else should do it."

Putz, a former closer with the Mariners, acknowledged Jenks was "tender."

"That's kind of the luxury we have with the depth we have in the bullpen," Putz said. "Whenever Bobby needs a blow, we kind of mix and match how we want to.""