May 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (15) is greeted by designated hitter Paul Konerko (14) after scoring against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. The Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
After two rain delays and hours of baseball, the Chicago White Sox left US Cellular Field with a 2-1 win Tuesday (into Wednesday morning) against the Cleveland Indians.
If you are able to remember, before the second rain delay, it was Chris Sale who pitched three innings, allowing no runs on zero hits, but was not the pitcher of record. He did walk one batter and struck out four.
It was a shame Sale (4-0) didn’t get to pitch the entire game, because he was doing so well against the Cleveland lineup. Sale lowered his ERA to 1.73 on the season, throwing 40 pitches, 28 for strikes.
Having Sale pitch as well as he did when he was in the game, before rain delay No. 2, was another sigh of relief in his second start since returning from the disabled list with the left flexor strain.
In his two starts since his DL stint, Sale has pitched a total of nine innings, allowing just one hit and no runs, with 14 strikeouts.
Hopefully the next start, which will probably be on either June 1 against the San Diego Padres at US Cellular Field or June 2 at the Los Angeles Dodgers, he can pitch for a longer period of time, but with the same strong results as past two starts.
The win moves the White Sox back to the .500 mark at 27-27 overall.
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Chicago scored first in the bottom of the third with Conor Gillaspie battling in Adam Eaton with a base hit to centerfield.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gordon Beckham hit a solo home run to left field.
How much fun has Gillaspie been fun to watch since his return to the lineup this season? He’s been a great surprise, and I believe Beckham is also playing up to his first-round potential this season thus far.
This season, Gillaspie is batting .355, as he was 1-for-2 with two walks and one RBI in Tuesday’s game. Beckham finished 2-for-4, but one of his best plays of the game was in the top of the eighth as he helped convert a double play to end the inning, throwing a rocket to first base for the third out.
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The Indians scored their lone run in the seventh with Lonnie Chisenhall crossing home plate.
The save went to Ronald Belisario, his third of the season. The winning pitcher was Scott Carroll, and the loss went to Justin Masterson.
Masterson started the game for the Indians, pitching three innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out three, as his ERA now stands at 5.21.
Carroll pitched three innings, allowing no runs on five hits and no walks.
Each team finished with eight hits.
Later this evening the White Sox will go for the sweep against the Indians. The pitching matchup is scheduled to be Hector Noesi (0-3, 5.14 ERA) for the White Sox and he’ll oppose T.J. House (0-1, 6.43 ERA) of the Indians.
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