But manager Jerry Manuel is not about to throw a party.
"We still have a long ways to go," he said after watching his team's 7-3 victory over Texas on Thursday night. "We have men, good men. Hopefully we'll be able to hold on."
If the Sox could play their remaining 34 games at home, it would be no contest. They're 41-22 at U.S. Cellular Field.
But the Sox have 16 games left on the road, including three at Minnesota and four at Kansas City to end the season.
Still, the Sox are thrilled after winning their fourth straight game to overtake the Royals, who lost 4-3 to Minnesota on Thursday.
"You want to be the team that everyone is chasing," Joe Crede said.
Crede keyed the Sox victory Thursday. He singled and scored in the fourth inning, homered in the sixth and ripped a two-run triple in the seventh.
Perhaps most impressive, Crede was playing his first game since Sunday after spraining a toe on his left foot.
The injury seemed to come at the worst possible time considering Crede had a 10-game hitting streak, during which he was batting .429.
Manuel looked at it differently.
"I think the injury gave him a nice little break because he has been out there day in and day out for us," Manuel said. "I think he's fresh."
Crede worked before the game with hitting coach Greg Walker on releasing his top hand through the swing. But Crede said the biggest difference has been his renewed patience at the plate.
That showed in the seventh when he pounced on Aaron Fultz's hanging breaking ball and lined it over the head of center fielder Ramon Nivar.
"I got good extension on it," Crede said.
Crede's second career triple put the Sox ahead 7-3, which was plenty of cushion for relievers Kelly Wunsch and Tom Gordon.
Bartolo Colon earned his first victory in three starts by allowing three runs over seven innings. He gave up just two hits before Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro hit back-to-back homers in the sixth.
Colon was removed after seven with stiffness in his back.
Frank Thomas also provided a highlight, hitting his 407th career home run. That ties him with Duke Snider for 35th on the all-time list.
Manuel also was excited about the acquisition of Reds right-hander Scott Sullivan, whom the Sox acquired in a trade Thursday. Manuel will use him to set up Gordon and Damaso Marte.
"Getting a guy with his experience is huge for us," Manuel said. "I haven't watched him pitch in some time, but I'll say this: He's a guy we've been interested in for a while."
But the night belonged to Crede, who thrilled his legion of fans who regularly hold up a sign in center field that reads: Crede's crew.
"Some of the players joked with me about paying them to put the sign up there," Crede said. "I even had a friend go up there to try to find out who they are.
"It seems like every time they come I have a good game, so I'm not opposed to it."