Chicago White Sox's Sale first in majors to win 11
In his first 9 starts this season, it was nothing but smooth sailing for White Sox ace Chris Sale.
Perfect record. A 1.58 ERA. Three complete games.
Nothing, it seemed, could go wrong.
After throwing a 4-hitter against Houston on May 19, plenty did go wrong for Sale as he allowed 6 runs to Cleveland in his next start, 4 to Detroit 2 starts later and 5 to Kansas City on June 10.
With all the problems plaguing the Sox these days, the last thing they need is a prolonged slump from their best pitcher. And while he wasn't perfect Wednesday night, it was with great relief to the Sox that they saw Sale gut out 7 innings while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits in a 5-3 victory over Detroit at U.S. Cellular Field.
Sale improved to 11-2 and became the first pitcher in the majors to record his 11th victory.
New leadoff man Tim Anderson went 3-for-5 and scored 3 of the Sox's 5 runs. With the game tied at 3-3, he led off the seventh inning with a single, moved to third on Adam Eaton's double and trotted in with the game-winning run when Todd Frazier hit a sacrifice fly to right.
Detroit did all its damage vs. Sale in a 3-run third inning, the big blow coming on a 2-run homer from No. 9 hitter Jose Iglesias.
Things would have been worse if not for center fielder J.B. Shuck's bullet of a throw that cut down James McCann, who was trying to score on a Mike Aviles single with nobody out.
Other than that rough inning, Sale retired the Tigers in order four times and allowed just 1 other hit.
"You (put) your guys in a hole - not only do they come back and get you out of it, but they get you a win as well," Sale said. "It's huge, especially taking the series right before we go on the road. Hopefully that gives us the boost we need."
Sox manager Robin Ventura cut short his pregame news conference when a reporter asked if he needs to go out sooner when his pitchers are having a rough inning.
"Get out of here. Geez," said a clearly annoyed Ventura.
After the game, Ventura had reporters howling with laughter after answering a question on what looked different about Sale in that tough third inning.
"I forgot to walk out and talk with him," Ventura deadpanned.
Frazier, who sat out Tuesday's game and is still in an 8-for-63 slump, was thrilled to have delivered the game-winning RBI.
"That whole at-bat I didn't feel any pressure," said Frazier, who also scored a run in the fourth after reaching on a leadoff walk. "I took two good pitches. He was trying to get ahead of me with some off-speed pitches. … He doesn't want to walk me, so I've got to get a fastball (with a 2-0 count).
"Got a sac fly, and lo and behold that was the winning run. So it was great."
And great for the Sox, who have a day off before beginning a three-game series against the first-place Indians. The Sox trail Cleveland by just 2½ games despite a 6-15 mark over the last 21 games.
Frazier, for one, hopes this horrid stretch is something everyone will have forgotten once October rolls around.
"It's been a crazy year so far if you think about it," he said. "At the end of this year when we look back on (it) hopefully it'll be something to laugh about."