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Buehrle, who retired 20 of the final 22 batters he faced in his previous start against Oakland, had some stellar defensive plays behind him before a crowd of 25,390 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Three of the closest plays came on grounders. Jerry Hairston hit one to Crede in the third inning and was called out at first after a headlong slide. Replays showed Hairston was out, but he was ejected by first base umpire James Hoye for arguing and had to be restrained by first base coach Gary Pettis when he returned to the field.

“Obviously, I thought I was safe,” Hairston said. “But I don’t want to take away from Buehrle, the guy just threw a no-hitter.”

Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi made a diving stop of Hank Blalock’s grounder in the hole, got up and threw him out to end the fifth. That came one batter after Sosa spoiled the perfect game bid by drawing the walk.

“I told him I couldn’t believe he walked Sammy but he picked him off,” Pierzynski said. “Doesn’t it count still?”

In the seventh, Chicago shortstop Juan Uribe went into the hole to get Ian Kinsler’s grounder and got him at first, thanks to a nice scoop by Konerko.

Chicago right fielder Jermaine Dye also made a nice play in the second on Blalock, going back to the fence to catch his long drive.

“Obviously, for a guy like me, I need my defense behind me,” Buehrle said.

Once the ace of the White Sox staff, Buehrle went 12-13 last season — his first losing record in six full major league seasons. After making the All-Star team, he struggled mightily after the break, going just 3-7.

Buehrle is in the final year of his contract. One of the first people to greet him in the clubhouse after the game was general manager Kenny Williams.

“He was on from the get-go,” Blalock said. “He throws six or seven different pitches. He was hitting his spots and keeping us off balance. It was a great game by him.”

The White Sox made it easier Wednesday night by breaking out of an offensive slump. They scored only two runs in the previous three games, all losses.

Jim Thome homered twice — giving him 477 for his career — and Dye hit a two-out grand slam in the fifth off Kevin Millwood (2-2).

Notes: Buehrle is 9-3 in his career against the Rangers. ... It was Dye’s sixth career slam. His last one came on July 4, 2005, against Tampa Bay.

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