Sale squanders lead, White Sox lose to Yanks in 10
NEW YORK - Chris Sale was in complete control at Yankee Stadium, all set to end Chicago's losing streak. And then the ball glanced off Dayan Viciedo's glove.
Unable to overcome Viciedo's error in left field, Sale fell apart in the sixth inning and let the Yankees erase a three-run deficit. Pinch-hitter Brian McCann lined a three-run homer off Jake Petricka in the 10th, giving New York a 7-4 victory Sunday and a three-game sweep of the skidding White Sox.
"Things just kind of unraveled for me," said Sale, who had thrown 21 straight scoreless innings on the road. "That stuff is going to happen. You have to find a way to get through that."
Ichiro Suzuki had a two-run single and Mark Teixeira hit an RBI double in the sixth off Sale, who is 0-2 in five starts since beating the Twins 7-0 on July 26. The three-time All-Star entered 3-0 with a 0.85 ERA and 40 strikeouts in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Yankees.
Avisail Garcia hit a tying homer in the ninth for the White Sox, who have lost a season-high six in a row and 13 of 17 overall. Chicago has dropped its last eight games at Yankee Stadium since winning on June 29, 2012.
During the latest series, the White Sox scored first in every game but blew a pair of three-run leads.
"It is tough. We have had a bad stretch," Sale said. "It is not for lack of effort. Nobody here is hanging their head. Nobody in here is giving up. Just some unfortunate bounces sometimes. We need to start stringing some things together and win some games."
Alexei Ramirez hit his first career leadoff homer and Conor Gillaspie had a two-run shot.
Desperately chasing a playoff spot, the Yankees won their fourth straight by getting their second game-ending hit against Chicago in three days.
Carlos Beltran doubled off Petricka (0-3) with two outs, and Chase Headley was intentionally walked. McCann, batting for backup catcher Francisco Cervelli, laced a full-count pitch over the 314-foot sign in the right-field corner.
"Just in the wrong spot," Petricka said. "He got the barrel on that changeup and kept it inside the pole. Short porch in right, that will happen here."
New York scored four unearned runs off Sale in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead, capitalizing on Viciedo's error. Sale walked two batters and hit rookie Zelous Wheeler on the leg with a first-pitch breaking ball, forcing in a run.
"I think it spiraled on him pretty quick," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Uncharacteristic for him to walk and hit a couple of guys."
Suzuki capped the outburst with a two-run single, making him the first left-handed batter to drive in a run against Sale since Minnesota star Joe Mauer on Aug. 17, 2013, according to STATS.
After striking out his first three times up, Garcia led off the ninth with a home run against Yankees closer David Robertson, who had converted 22 consecutive save chances since June 5 - the longest active streak in the majors.
David Huff (3-1) threw a called third strike past slugger Jose Abreu with two on to end the top of the 10th.
"I was trying to throw a ball there," said Huff, who didn't want to give Abreu anything to hit. "I was missing some spots, in a good way."
RESPECT
New York saluted White Sox captain Paul Konerko before his final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter presented Konerko with an encased and autographed base, and the two posed for photos behind home plate. Jeter and Konerko are both retiring after this season.
"As far as that whole retirement thing, it is probably the highlight of the year for me so far," said Konerko, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. "Definitely a classy move by them. I certainly did not expect it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: CF Adam Eaton (strained right oblique) went 2 for 5 with a double and a run Saturday night in the first game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. Eaton was scheduled to play for Charlotte again Sunday and probably Monday, Ventura said.
UP NEXT
Chicago is off Monday before opening a seven-game homestand Tuesday night, with LHP Jose Quintana (6-10, 3.25 ERA) facing Cleveland LHP T.J. House (2-3, 3.80).
BUSY WEEKEND
Garcia hit an opposite-field shot to the short porch in right on Robertson's first pitch. Robertson pitched in all three games during the series and ended up with a win, a save and a blown save.