Chris Sale pitches gem; suffers 1st loss of season
Jun 12, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Sale did his job by allowing just one earned run in seven innings, but it wasn’t enough for these complacent Chicago White Sox to earn a third straight win, falling to the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, Thursday.
The complacency of the White Sox may have had something to do with the pitching of Tigers ace Max Scherzer, who improved to 8-2 on the season. In what was his first complete game of his career, the reigning Cy Young Award winner allowed just three hits and walked three in the shutout of the White Sox.
Scherzer lowered his ERA to 3.05 on the season, plus he struck out eight White Sox batters.
Jun 12, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (37) delivers in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Then there was Sale … in his seven innings, he allowed a solo home run to Victor Martinez, with a slider that … umm … didn’t slide enough. The left-handed Sale walked none and struck out 10.
Sale’s ERA went back down to below the 2.00 mark at 1.97 with this being his first loss of the season, as his record is now 5-1 overall.
Of Sale’s night, here are some Tweets about his start:
Chris Sale records his 13th career double-digit strikeout game and third of the season.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 13, 2014
All 10 of Sale's strikeouts were of the swinging variety
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) June 13, 2014
Sale's 13 such games are tied for the third-most in #WhiteSox history (also Javier Vazquez).
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 13, 2014
The three White Sox hits were from Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn and Alexei Ramirez, but they really didn’t matter as they never crossed home plate. The White Sox were hitless with RISP at 0-for-3.
I just do not understand what this team really is. They can’t waste quality starts by Sale and expect to be successful, even if they are facing Scherzer, because others have had success against the ace of the Tigers this season.
The White Sox looked lost at the plate this evening, and sure, it can happen to a player here and there … I get that, but to basically the entire lineup one through nine?
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This ball club has won three or more games in a row just twice this season, with their largest winning streak being four games, with a win against the Cleveland Indians, followed by three wins against the Chicago Cubs, so is that really a four-game “winning streak” when it involves the Cubs?
I’m kidding, Cubs fans … kind of.
I just want to see this team string together a solid winning streak against a team like the Tigers, and they had the perfect opportunity Thursday with Sale pitching some very good baseball.
Once Sale left the game, the untrustworthy bullpen of the White Sox allowed three runs in the eighth and ninth innings, though the defense of Gordon Beckham didn’t help matters, either.
Now the focus needs to turn towards the Kansas City Royals and the weekend series.