Sale giving Sox some relief
It was a terrible day for the White Sox' pitching staff Sunday, with one exception.
Chris Sale, who was pitching for Florida Gulf Coast University less than three months ago, relieved ineffective starter Freddy Garcia in the sixth inning and retired all four Detroit hitters he faced, two on strikeouts.
The 21-year-old lefty has made 4 appearances with the Sox since rocketing through the minor leagues, and Sale has allowed just 1 hit and no runs in 32/3 innings.
"Very good," manager Ozzie Guillen said of the rifle-armed rookie. "I told you guys earlier, I'm going to keep using this guy in tough situations to see what he's got. Out of all this today, I think he was the best today."
With Bobby Jenks (back spasms) likely headed for the disabled list and J.J. Putz, Matt Thornton and Sergio Santos tailing off from the increased workload, don't be surprised if Sale is called on in the seventh and eighth innings.
"The first couple of outings, especially the first one, they were kind of shaky," Sale said. "It was just getting a feel for being out there, pitching in front of this many people, in this atmosphere and against the talent that's here. But the last couple times I've gone out there, it's just been me and the glove. Just making my pitch and not worrying about who's hitting or what the score is or even what the count is. I see a pitch and I try to execute it the best I can."
As for handling even more pressure, Sale is not shying away from anything.
"Pitching is pitching, whether you're a starter, a setup guy, a specialist or a closer," Sale said. "You still have to make pitches and get outs and perform well. Whatever inning, whatever role, whatever the situation may be, if I'm called I'm just going to take the same approach, execute pitches and try to get outs."
Early exit: Pitching coach Don Cooper was ejected by home-plate umpire Jeff Nelson in the seventh inning for arguing a called ball on a close pitch from rookie reliever Chris Sale to Johnny Damon.
"Cooper's very bad at arguments," said manager Ozzie Guillen, who is not. "When you're going to lose $500, you better make it worth it. That's all I can say. He was arguing strikes and balls. When the umpire throws you out and you disappear from the dugout, you're a chicken. You've got to go out there and make it worth it. The fine's going to be the same whether you go out or you go in."
Take a break: Mired in a 1-for-12 slump, center fielder Alex Rios didn't play Sunday.
Monday is an off day, so Rios should be rested and ready when the Sox open a three-game series at first-place Minnesota on Tuesday.
"Rios has been playing every day," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It's been hot lately. He is a guy you have to really take care of. That's the reason why we did it, not because we play Minnesota. Believe me, I don't care if we played Toronto Tuesday, he will get a day off because of the way he's been playing."
On strike: Edwin Jackson piled up 11 strikeouts in 7 innings during Saturday night's start against Detroit.
In 3 starts since joining the Sox in a July 30 trade from the Diamondbacks, Jackson has 24 strikeouts in 20 innings.
"I can be," Jackson said when asked if he's a strikeout pitcher. "I just want to get outs. I don't care how they come, whether it be strikeout, flyout, groundout. I'm not really into seeing how many people I can strike out. I take outs any way I can get them."