Broken dream for Danks

Youkilis ruins his bid for no-hitter

John Danks fashioned an impressive pitching line (7 innings, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts), but his night ended in disappointment. (REX ARBOGAST/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CHICAGO - By the end of the fifth inning, the crowd of 32,634 at U.S. Cellular Field was aware there was potential for a very special evening. When White Sox starter John Danks struck out J.D. Drew to end that inning, the crowd roared with the knowledge that Danks had retired the first 15 Red Sox batters.

But less than two innings later, Danks's chance at history was gone, and so was the White Sox' hold on first place in the American League Central.

Danks's quest for a perfect game ended with two outs in the sixth when he hit Jacoby Ellsbury in the backside with a 1-and-1 pitch. But the dream of a no-hitter remained for the young southpaw when he got Coco Crisp to hit into an inning-ending force play.

An inning later, it all slipped away. Danks not only lost his bid for a no-hitter, he also lost the lead en route to his fifth loss of the season against nine wins.

After Dustin Pedroia flied out to start the seventh, Kevin Youkilis broke his bat on a 1-and-0 pitch. But he got enough of it, as the ball dropped into center field, stopping the no-hit bid and sparking the Red Sox to a 5-1 comeback win last night.

"I just got a fastball that got a little in," Youkilis said. "I just kind of took a swing that got in on me a little bit. Luckily it got over the shortstop's head."

Danks then walked Mike Lowell, but victory was still within reach after he struck out Jason Bay.

But Danks, who has pitched effectively (3.18 ERA) in his second major league season, was not able to get the most crucial out of the evening. Drew, batting just .200 over his last 20 games, delivered a clutch double to the left-center field gap, plating Youkilis and Lowell for a 2-1 lead.

Behind an outstanding performance from Josh Beckett, the Red Sox breezed from there.

"He threw me a really good pitch the first pitch of the at-bat," Drew said. "I just tried to stay on it and drive the ball."

Danks threw down the rosin bag in frustration, seemingly aware the tide had turned ominously for the White Sox, who fell out of first place with the loss. The Twins took over the division lead by a half-game with a 4-0 victory over the Yankees.

"J.D. Drew is one of the best hitters this year in baseball. I left the ball out over the plate and he did what he is supposed to do," said Danks, who struck out nine and walked two while allowing just the two hits in seven innings. "I was upset with myself. You don't ever want to give up a lead like that, especially late in the game with Beckett doing what he was doing."

Danks said the fact that a broken bat stopped the no-hit bid did not bother him.

"A hit is a hit," he said. "Youkilis is a good hitter. It wasn't the only hit I gave up. If it had been the only hit, then you might start thinking about it."

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen expressed sympathy for Danks at the end of a frustrating evening.

"It was sad," Guillen said. "The kid was throwing the ball really well. One hitter turned everything around."

Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.