CLEVELAND - Rookie Hector Santiago allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings as the Chicago White Sox kept their slim playoff hopes alive - for the moment - with an 11-0 win over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.
Santiago (4-1), who began the season as Chicago's closer, struck out a season-high 10. The Indians' only hit off the left-hander was Shin-Soo Choo's two-out single in the third.
With just their third win in 13 games, the second-place White Sox remained in contention in the AL Central pending the outcome of Detroit's game in Kansas City. A win by the first-place Tigers will eliminate the White Sox, who collapsed down the stretch after being in first place in the division for 63 straight days.
The White Sox scored four runs in the sixth off Corey Kluber (2-5), and added six in the ninth to end any doubt.
Dayan Viciedo hit his first career grand slam in the ninth to make it 11-0.
After lining up and slapping high-fives in the infield, the White Sox headed to their clubhouse aware that the Tigers were leading the Royals 6-2 in the seventh.
There was nothing more Chicago could do. It was out of the White Sox's hands.
A season of promise under first-year manager Robin Ventura had almost crumbled completely.
Santiago and Kluber were locked in a scoreless duel until the sixth, when the White Sox scored four runs on five hits - four coming with two outs.
