Rios' hard slide leads White Sox to crucial win

During his days in Toronto, Alex Rios heard critics claim that he didn't care enough and that he didn't play hard all the time.

Blue Jays fans might want to watch the replay of the Chicago White Sox's 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, as Rios continued to show that his laid-back attitude had been interpreted incorrectly.

The outfielder had what could prove to be the play of the year for the Sox, or at least the slide of the year. Rios broke up a potential inning-ending double play in the fifth inning, resulting in a throwing error by Tigers second baseman Omar Infante that allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.

The Sox ended up holding on for the win in the makeup game from last week, and they stretched their lead in the AL Central to three games over the second-place Tigers.

With 16 games left, the Sox players know Monday's result was huge, especially because, at least on paper, Chicago has a tougher schedule, having to go to Kansas City and Anaheim, and still having to play a home series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I just told him that might be the play of the year," White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham said after Chicago rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 to extend their winning streak to four games. The Tigers still won the season series 12-6.

As for Rios, he preferred talking about the team win then dwelling on a slide that would have left a defensive back grinning.

"We got our base hits, we scored on walks, and we did a lot of things," Rios said. "We played very well, and that's what we got to do from now on. If (Infante) stays in the baseline, I'm going to get him. But I thought it was a clean slide, and every middle infielder knows that if they stay in the baseline, something like that is going to happen."

Manager Robin Ventura obviously liked the three-game lead, but he knows that it's now about taking care of the Sox's own business with Detroit off the schedule.

"(Tuesday) becomes a whole different game and different team," Ventura said. "Be sure you worry about yourself and not worry about anything else. There's nothing you can do about (the Tigers)."