“We did it! We won a game!” (Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports).
When the White Sox need to put a stop to a losing streak, a case all too familiar for the 2013 White Sox, there is no better extinguisher than Chris Sale. And Sale delivered Monday night, leading the White Sox to a series-opening 6-2 victory over Detroit. Sale stifled the Tigers to the tune of a complete game victory, only giving up two runs on nine hits with six strikeouts.
Offensively, the White Sox lower third of the batting order, which consisted of Jeff Keppinger, Jordan Danks and Josh Phegley, went a collective 7-12, scoring four of the White Sox’s six runs. The Sox collected 14 hits as a team, knocking out Tigers starter Doug Fister after only six innings.
Another bright spot was the Sox’s clutch hitting, going 5-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding only eight runners. Although part of the reason they only stranded eight might have been the fact that they hit into three double plays.
Shockingly, Miguel Cabrera provided the Tigers’ offense with a home run off of Chris Sale in the first inning, his 37th of the year and 111th R.B.I. Unlike the Sox, though, the Tigers’ offense failed in key situations, going 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
Up Next: The White Sox go for the series win Tuesday night at 7:05, sending Hector Santiago to the bump to square off against Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer of Detroit.