Another losing season for Chicago White Sox wearing on Sale

Individually, Chris Sale is having another banner season.

The Chicago White Sox's ace left-hander took the mound Monday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field and pitched 8 strong innings against the Detroit Tigers.

It didn't matter much in the win department, as the Sox fell to the Tigers 5-3 in 11 innings.

Here's how another losing season is going - for the first time in his career Sale has pitched 8 or more innings in 4 straight starts. He has 1 win to show for it.

Sale has never been a big fan of individual achievement.

"It's hard to look at stuff like that when you're going through what we've been going through," he said. "I don't really look too far into personal stats. If somebody's got really bad stats on a winning team, I'll trade it with him."

The White Sox haven't been able to win with Sale in the starting rotation the past four seasons.

They need talented hitters, and that's why the Sox might wind up trading Sale this winter. He would bring a haul of quality prospects back to the South Side.

Maybe the White Sox wind up trading Jose Quintana, or maybe they trade both of their top starters.

Then again, maybe the Sox hang on to Sale and Quintana and try to figure something else out. Whatever happens, Sale is getting sick of all the losing.

"I can tell you, top to bottom, no one's happy about it," he said. "It falls on us, mostly. You just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say what have we got to do to change it. I think everybody does, top to bottom.

"We have to find a way to be better next year. Hold your head up high, but we've got to change something."

Power show:

Alex Avila has hit only 6 home runs while dealing with an injured hamstring for much of the season.

Last Wednesday, Avila hit a homer off former Tigers teammate Justin Verlander at Comerica Park. Avila went deep against Verlander again Monday.

"He's pretty good," Avila said. "Having faced him this year, I didn't have to do any type of homework before the games. I already understood what he was going to be trying to do. He's tough, and he's throwing the ball really well."