Sale hot, Robertson not for Chicago White Sox

Even though he started for the American League in last Tuesday's All-Star Game, White Sox ace Chris Sale was struggling toward the end of the first half.

In his last start before the break, Sale faced the lowly Atlanta Braves and was tagged for 8 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings. In the start before that, Sale faced the Houston Astros and gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits in 7 innings.

After opening the second half of the season with 3 straight losses to the Los Angeles Angels, the Sox needed Sale to regain his usual form in Monday night's game at Seattle.

Sale did just that, allowing just 1 hit in 8 shutout innings.

But closer David Robertson couldn't protect a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning, and pinch hitter Adam Lind's 3-run homer with two outs lifted the Mariners to a 4-3 victory.

Seattle's lone hit off Sale was Franklin Gutierrez's single in the first inning.

Opening the second half against the Angels, the Sox were outscored 16-1 while being swept.

The lineup struggled from top to bottom, and rookie leadoff man Tim Anderson was particularly ineffective while going 0-for-11 with 6 strikeouts. The shortstop also committed 3 errors.

Anderson was dropped to the No. 2 spot against the Mariners. Adam Eaton, who was the Sox's primary leadoff hitter since 2014 before Anderson arrived, was back at the top of the lineup.

“It's just something different, for no other reason than we're not scoring and hopefully that changes something,” manager Robin Ventura told reporters before Monday's game. “Pretty much the same people are going to be in there, but we could move it around somewhat just to shake it up and get something going.”

The lineup change instantly worked, as Anderson crushed a solo home run to the upper deck in left field in the first inning.

Todd Frazier, who was 2-for-12 with 3 strikeouts against the Angels, hit a 2-run homer to center field in the fourth inning off Mariners starter Wade LeBlanc.

Ventura said he never considered benching Anderson.

“He came up, and he was hot,” Ventura said. “He really sparked us for a while. Defensively, I wouldn't say flawless, but he was pretty good. It was impressive. You're going to see veteran guys do the same thing, have a series that's tough.

“You stick with him. You know he has it in him. He'll be fine. You have to understand he's young. He's still learning. He's a tough enough kid to handle it.”