CHICAGO – For the past 11⁄2 weeks, as the White Sox watched their division lead evaporate, they said all the right things.

Reality is setting in, however, and they can’t sugarcoat the harsh reality any longer. Losing eight of nine games in the home stretch is terrible for any team, let alone one that is trying to make the playoffs. Now they face the grim reality that time is no longer on their side after losing, 3-2, to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

“You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Paul Konerko said. “Sometimes the game is cruel.