Sale not sharp as Sox' playoff hopes continue to fade
The White Sox opened the season in Kansas City, where the Royals swept the three-game series to put the Sox in an early hole.
The Sox opened the second half of the season against Kansas City, and the Royals won three of four to all but bury any faint playoff hopes.
Two things are very clear:
1. K.C. (55-35) is good enough to return to the World Series this year. 2. The White Sox (42-48) are still in bad shape.
“It's just frustrating all the way around,” Chris Sale said Sunday afternoon after the Sox fell to the Royals 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field. “You come out and you're playing hard. We're grinding it out. We're playing as hard as we can and that's all you can really ask.”
Making his since first start since July 11 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Sale was far from his usual sharp self. The White Sox' ace lasted just 6⅓ innings and allowed 4 runs.
He had 6 strikeouts but allowed 11 hits, matching a career high. The left-hander also allowed a solo home run to Lorenzo Cain in the sixth inning and a 2-run shot to Paulo Orlando in the seventh.
“All over the place,” said Sale (8-5). “This is not a good team to leave fastballs over the plate to and also not a good team to let the ball travel over the fence. They take advantage of every opportunity you give them and that's what happens.”
Led by shortstop Alcides Escobar, the Royals played typically stellar defense. But the Sox managed just 6 hits off starter Danny Duffy, who had a shutout going until Tyler Saladino led off the ninth with his first major-league home run to chase the lefty.
“Sale's one of the best pitchers in the game, and going in as an opposing pitcher you can't think about that,” said Duffy (4-4). “You've just got to go out there and pitch your game. I know my stuff is good enough to match up because zero always equals zero. So if he has a good game or whatever, I've still got to go out there and do my job.
“He still threw the ball pretty well today, but our offense just came with it like they have all season.”
Saladino was the extent of the White Sox' offense, which has scored 3 or fewer runs 51 times in 90 games.
“The home run's nice, especially the first one,” Saladino said. “But at the end of the day, if we don't win, that's all that matters. The home run is just a moment. The win, at the end of the day, we didn't get it, so come back Tuesday.”
With Conor Gillaspie designated for assignment earlier Sunday, Saladino is officially the Sox' starting third baseman. He was added to the 25-man roster from Class AAA Charlotte on July 10.
“It's awesome,” Saladino said. “You don't know what to expect coming up here. Preparation is everything for me, just working hard, treating every day like it's as important as any other.
“That's just all I try to do, so being able to have some results out of all that, it's gratifying. But I'm still trying to treat each day as important as the other and be ready for Tuesday.”