Chicago ? Thanks to John Danks and the White Sox, Chicago still has one team standing.

For the second time in less than a week, Danks pitched a strong game to save the season as the White Sox beat Tampa Bay, 5-3, Sunday and trimmed the Rays’ lead in the opening-round AL playoff series to 2-1.

“If Danks loses in either game he pitches, we’re not here right now,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Game 4 in the best-of-five matchup is today in Chicago, with Gavin Floyd facing Tampa Bay’s Andy Sonnanstine.

“We’re going to put a lot of pressure on them,” Guillen added.

Less than 24 hours after the Cubs were swept out of the playoffs by the Dodgers, dashing Chicago’s hopes for a crosstown World Series, the White Sox avoided elimination before a black-shirted, white-towel-waving crowd of 40,142 in their home park.

Danks, who beat Minnesota in the tiebreaker for the AL Central title, shut down the Rays for 62â3 innings.

“I was trying to stay within myself, and A.J. (Pierzynski) did a good job of keeping me under control,” Danks said.