Sox swept away in Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Donaldson's sixth-inning sacrifice fly ended a career-best 28-inning scoreless streak by White Sox starter Chris Sale, and the Oakland Athletics beat the South Siders 2-0 on Sunday for a weekend sweep.
Jarrod Parker (4-6) hung tough in an impressive pitcher's duel with Sale to win back-to-back starts for the first time this year. The right-hander matched his season high with seven strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings as Oakland won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Sale (5-3) lost for the first time in six starts since an April 18 defeat at Toronto. The White Sox (24-30) lost their season-high sixth in a row and matched a season-worst by falling to six games below .500.
Sale's 28-inning stretch without allowing a run was the longest by a White Sox pitcher since Wilson Alvarez went 31 scoreless innings from Sept. 11-27, 1993.
The streak by Sale nearly ended last Tuesday, when he pitched three innings against the Cubs before the game was rained out keeping the run going for at least one more start as the rainout stats don't count.
Coco Crisp drew a leaodff walk in the sixth Sunday, then Jed Lowrie singled as Crisp went to third. Sale received a mound visit from pitching coach Don Cooper before facing Yoenis Cespedes. The Cuban star was called out on an 80 mph curveball, then Donaldson had plenty on his flyball to right to bring home Crisp.
Crisp scored again in the eighth when freshly called up center fielder Jordan Danks misplayed Lowrie's single for an error.
Facing a left-handed starter for the seventh time in 10 games, Oakland did just enough a day after stranding 18 runners in a 4-3, 10-inning victory.
The slumping White Sox missed more chances in the finale shut out for the second time this series after 40-year-old Bartolo Colon's five-hit gem Friday night.
Adam Dunn hit a two-out double in the fourth that hit at the top of the wall as center fielder Crisp tried to make a play but didn't track it to where it landed and was not in the right place.
But Parker struck out Casper Wells to end the inning moments later. Parker allowed two hits in 6 1-3 innings with two walks. Ryan Cook struck out three of the four batters he faced, then Grant Balfour finished the three-hit shutout for his 13th save in as many chances and 31st in a row dating to last season.
Sale lost for the first time in his career against an AL West opponent, dropping to 10-1. He would have become the only pitcher in baseball history to win his first 11 career decisions against the division, according to STATS LLC.
Chicago first baseman and designated hitter Paul Konerko sat out with a recurring stiff neck, but he expects to be back in the lineup Monday at Seattle.