Sale's record setting season continues
SEATTLE - White Sox left-hander Chris Sale and Seattle Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez went into the Friday night game at Safeco Field with a combined 335 career starts, 194 career wins and 10 All-Star appearances, all while pitching for American League teams.
One thing neither of them did previously was to face the other.
That wasn't the only kind of history Sale was out to make as the White Sox opened a three-game series with the Mariners.
Coming off his 15-strikeout performance in a Sunday win over the Cubs, the 26-year-old veteran finished with 14 and has now recorded 29 strikeouts in his last two starts combined. That's a franchise record for the White Sox.
Sale also has an AL-high 222 strikeouts, putting him on pace to surpass the franchise's single-season record of 269, set by Ed Walsh in 1908.
The 15 strikeouts Sunday marked the 12th time this season that Sale hit double-digit figures in a game. To put that number in perspective, Hernandez, annually a Cy Young Award candidate and top-10 strikeout performer, had just two double-digit strikeout games going into Friday. As impressive as the numbers are, White Sox manager Robin Ventura is used to them.
"I don't get amazed by it," he said before Friday's game. "Sometimes you can get caught up in strikeouts, but I'm looking at pitch count. The thing is, he's at his best when he's throwing strikes early."
Sale had plenty of success against Seattle in the past, going 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA over six games, four of which were starts. He had two complete games in that span while striking out 40 over 33 2/3 innings heading into Friday's game. His previous start against the Mariners included 12 strikeouts, and that was before Seattle traded for center fielder Austin Jackson, who entered Friday's game with 12 strikeouts and just two hits over 30 career at-bats against Sale.
Friday brought a whole new challenge, however, and Sale welcomed the showdown said against Hernandez, according to Ventura.
"Any guy would," the manager said. "He enjoys that. He understands it. He doesn't let him overwhelm him."
Jammin' rivlary
The national anthem was played by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, a Seattle native who wore a Mariners T-shirt while playing catch with Seattle designated hitter Mark Trumbo before Friday's game.
Pearl Jam's lead singer, Eddie Vedder, who grew up in Evanston, Ill., was in the visiting clubhouse the last time the White Sox were in town.
McCready's next gig is playing guitar in an Iggy Pop & the Stooges cover band on top of Seattle's Pike Place Market on Sunday. However, don't start any Pearl Jam breakup rumors: The guitarist is involved in several side projects, and baseball differences haven't broken up the veteran band.
Webb set for rehab:
White Sox right-hander Daniel Webb was sent to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday to begin a rehab assignment. Webb has been out since Aug. 5 due to a strained back.
LaRoche back at first:
One day after going 2-for-4 as the White Sox's first baseman, Adam LaRoche was back in the field Friday.
LaRoche spent most of this season as designated hitter before being benched earlier in the week for three games. He triumphantly returned to the lineup Thursday as a first baseman.
"He seemed to be swinging it better," Ventura said.