John Danks, battered to the tune of .425 by the Twins' starting lineup in his previous encounters, showed no problem with being asked to work on three days of rest, allowing only two hits, three walks and one base runner to get past first base. It was only the second time he worked eight innings in 33 starts this season.

It is, however, a night that rates No. 1 on the 23-year-old left-hander's list of baseball memories.

"This is incredible," he said. "It's like nothing else I can imagine. We knew we were the underdog. I don't know if it was motivation, but we knew we were good enough to in and we proved that."

Underdog? The Sox were picked to finish either third or fourth by most preseason prognostications. Cleveland and Detroit were considered the divisional elite. Not that the Sox seemed too concerned. They moved into a tie for first place on May 17, and held the top spot for all but four days the rest of the way.

It just happened those four days were in the last week.

It just happened that the Twins swept the White Sox out of the division lead a week ago, taking three games between the two teams at the Metrodome, to send the White Sox on a five-game losing streak that all but ended Chicago's season.

Problem was, the Twins couldn't put away Kansas City last weekend, losing two of three to the Royals, which allowed the Sox to cling to hope.

When they snapped the losing streak and beat Cleveland 5-1 on Sunday, only their third win in 11 games, it forced Detroit to come to U.S. Cellular on Monday afternoon to make up a rainout. And when the Sox topped the Tigers 8-2, it set up the divisional title showdown against the Twins on Tuesday night.

The two teams weren't merely 88-74. They were both 53-28 at home and 35-46 on the road.

In Game No. 163, the Sox were at home. The Twins were on the road.

Advantage Sox, particularly with the way the 18th sellout crowd of the season — listed as a best-in-five total of 40,354 — responded.

"This might have been the best I've seen this park, even in the World Series (sweep of Houston in 2005)," said Paul Konerko. "I think that got us over the hump. I really do."

They certainly helped Reinsdorf savor the moment.

The Sox are headed to the postseason for the ninth time in their history, and before the first pitch in the first game against Tampa Bay has been thrown, Reinsdorf is satisfied.

"I'm still going to be tense," he said. "I'm still going to want to win every game. But really, think about what this team has done. You have to appreciate it."