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I know I’m not the only one who thinks the White Sox are out of it, but I didn’t expect Jake Peavy to say it out loud: “Obviously, now it doesn’t seem like we’re playing for much.” Well, despite his defeatist/realist attitude, Peavy went out and pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless ball last night, allowing only four hits while striking out a season-high nine batters. A parade of relievers kept the shutout intact, with Sergio Santos back to throwing gas (rather than gas on the fire) to earn his 29th save in a 3-0 win over Minnesota.

Alejandro De Aza continues to impress, singling in Adam Dunn (three walks on the night) in the second, and tripling (the ball scooted past a diving Joe Benson) and scoring on Brent Morel’s single in the fifth. Alex Rios actually homered – just his ninth of the year – to provide the other run.

The win was the second straight blanking of the Twins (who started three players making their major league debuts) and ensures that the Sox will not lose the season series to the Twins for the first time in forever. The Sox are ahead 9-8 on the year with the final game scheduled for today. Had the Sox split with the Twins last year, the Good Guys would have won the division. But they didn’t and they didn’t.

This year it's the Tiger that have bedeviled the South Siders. Reverse that 5-10 record against Detroit and the Sox would be two games ahead in the standings instead of trailing by eight. Even 9-6 would have the two teams tied. By contrast, the Pale Hose have cleaned up against the Tribe, with a 7-3 record, with eight games left to play against each other. The Sox also have seven games remaining versus the Royals, against whom they’re a disappointing 5-6.

With Detroit’s Magic Number at 14, I’m afraid that Peavy and I are right about it being over. But we’ll keep counting ‘em down until the Magic Number for the Sox becomes mathematically irrelevant. Go Sox!