Sale's ERA drops to 1.99 after brilliant outing vs. A's
This is the second straight season the White Sox have been out of the playoff race before it even got interesting.
And it's the second straight season where Sox fans unable to watch it play out have nonetheless tuned in when Chris Sale is on the mound.
The Sox' ace starter got the ball Thursday afternoon at chilly U.S. Cellular Field, and he made quick work of the A's in a 1-0 win that took only 2 hours and 18 minutes.
"There are main keys that I try to," Sale said after pitching 8 innings and allowing 2 hits and 2 walks while adding 9 strikeouts. "Working fast, trying to fill up the zone and just get a line on what Flow (catcher Tyler Flowers) puts down. It worked out very well for me."
After allowing 1 run or less for the 35th time in 83 career starts, Sale's ERA dipped to 1.99, the best in the American League.
The 25-year-old pitcher is also tied with Seattle's Felix Hernandez for the league lead in WHIP (0.92) and he ranks sixth with 192 strikeouts despite missing five weeks earlier in the season with a strained flexor muscle.
The numbers are impressive, but Sale (12-3) doesn't care much for individual achievement.
"It's cool, but I'm not a numbers guy," he said. "I don't care about that stuff, the strikeouts the ERA, whatever it is. There's one stat that matters. As many times as we can get in that left (win) column, the better off we are. I think we're moving in the right direction with this team.
"It's not quixotic to make a playoff run next year for us. We're just fighting and working hard. I've thought about the Cy Young and all that stuff. But as soon as it comes in my mind it comes back out because I don't play the game for that. I play for everybody in here."
Sale allowed only 2 singles Thursday, and A's shortstop Jed Lowrie had both of them.
"It feels like you're almost stepping into the box 0-2 against him because he's got such great command of all three of his pitches," Lowrie said of Sale's fastball, slider and changeup. "When he's got the velocity and command like he did today, he's going to be tough. I don't think you can be aggressive against him because he's got the off-speed to counter somebody's aggressiveness."
Scott Kazmir, Sale's mound opponent, was also effective. The lefty allowed only 4 hits over 8 innings, but he hung a curveball in the sixth inning and Marcus Semien hit it out to left field to decide the outcome.
"When Sale's throwing, one run might be able to get a win for us," Semien said. "I'm glad it worked out that way."
It was quite a bounceback game for Semien, who committed 3 errors playing third base in Tuesday night's 11-2 loss to Oakland.
"It's another game," said Semien, who played shortstop Thursday. "Tomorrow's a new day. I never want to get too high or too low, no matter how my performance is out there. I try to stay even-keeled and stay the same. If I happen to have a bad game, just, you know, learn from my mistakes. And if I have a good game, just continue to do what works out there."
White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus today; WGN Saturday; Comcast SportsNet Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Jose Quintana (7-10) vs. Phil Hughes (5-9) today at 7:10 p.m.; Scott Carroll (5-10) vs. Tommy Milone (6-4) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Hector Noesi (8-9) vs. Trevor May (2-4) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: After winning 3 of 4 against Oakland, the White Sox wrap up their homestand against Minnesota. The Sox are 7-9 vs. the last-place Twins this season.
Quintana is 1-3 with a 4.71 ERA in his last 6 starts. Paul Konerko (fractured left hand) is hoping to be ready to take batting practice this weekend. Jake Petricka has converted five straight save opportunities.
Next: Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor