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Chris Sale: Top Five Starts for White Sox 2016 Season

By Etheria Modacure |
Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
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White Sox All-Star Chris Sale led team in wins, ERA, strikeouts in 2016. The veteran starter pitched six complete games, recorded career-high 17 wins.

The Chicago White Sox didn’t have a winning season in 2016, but Chris Sale had one of his better seasons in his career. Despite not reaching 20 wins, Sale was able to boast a career-high 17 wins during the 2016 season.

Sale was in the running for the Cy Young Award in the AL up until the last month of the season. Although the Sox ultimately finished 78-84, Sale’s impressive 17-10 record didn’t go unnoticed on the South Side. Sale led the Sox in wins and strikeouts in 2016, and was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.

The Sox benefited from some spectacular outings from Sale in 2016 as the left-hander pitched a career-high six complete games. To go along with his 17-10 record, Sale had a 3.34 ERA with 233 strikeouts. While the Sox ultimately didn’t reach the postseason for an eighth consecutive season, there were plenty of solid starts from Sale this past season. We will take a look at the best five starts from Sale in 2016 with the Sox.

May 13, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox shakes hands with starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) after defeating the New York Yankees 7-1 at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox shakes hands with starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) after defeating the New York Yankees 7-1 at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Sale Pitches Complete Game Against Yankees 

The Sox were one of the best teams in MLB during the month of April. After jumping out to a 17-8 record, the Sox were hoping to carry that positive momentum into May. However, after dropping two of three to the Rangers in its previous series, the Sox entered its series against the Yankees needing a spirit-lifting win.

This is where Sale came in. Sale, coming off an impressive start against the Twins on May 7, pitched his best game at Yankee Stadium on May 13. The Sox were able to beat the Yankees 7-1 behind a stellar outing by Sale. The left-handed pitcher threw his second complete game of the season, and his first in New York.

Sale gave up just one earned run, while recording six strikeouts. The Sox badly needed the win after they had lost two consecutive games in which they led against the Rangers. After the game, Sale’s ERA would be 1.67 as he improved his record to 8-0.

May 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch during the second inning of the game against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch during the second inning of the game against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Sale Pitches 2nd Consecutive Complete Game

The Sox were unable to win its series against the Yankees, and they entered their series with the Houston Astros on May 18 needing a series victory. Houston would defeat the Sox in the series opener, but Sale would give the Sox a much-needed win on May 19.

Sale pitched his second consecutive complete game, and third for the season on May 19. In a 2-1 Sox win over the Astros, Sale recorded nine strikeouts against Houston. The Astros were no match for Sale who appeared to be the best pitcher MLB at that point. Sale wasted little time with Astors hitters as the Sox breezed to a win in which the game time was 2 hours 11 minutes.

With the win, Sale improved his record to 9-0 and dropped his ERA to 1.58. This would be the last game in which Sale’s ERA was below 2.00 at the end of the contest. Sale would later get his first defeat of the season in his next start against the Indians on May 24.

Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Sale Dominates Red Sox at Fenway

The Sox entered its series with the Red Sox on June 20 coming off a deflating sweep at the hands of the Indians. After getting an improbable win over the Red Sox in its previous game, the Sox would keep up its winning ways with Sale on the mound on June 21.

Sale pitched seven strong innings against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. In his start, Sale recorded nine strikeouts while allowing one earned run. The Sox would pick up its second consecutive win over the Red Sox. With the win, Sale’s record improved to 12-2 and his ERA dropped to 2.83. The start for Sale on June 21 further solidified his worthiness of starting the All-Star Game in San Diego. He would end the first half with a 14-3 record and 3.38 ERA, and started the Midsummer Classic.

Sep 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Sale Out-Dueled by Hernandez

The Sox were close to concluding another losing month in August when Sale had one of his better starts of the season against the Mariners. On Aug. 26, Sale and Mariners ace Felix Hernandez squared off at U.S. Cellular Field.

Hernandez would get the better of Sale in the win column as Seattle defeated the Sox 3-1. However, Sale pitched his fifth complete game of the season. Sale recorded a season-high 14 strikeouts against the Mariners in his seventh loss of 2016. Although Sale gave up three earned runs, the All-Star pitcher was still dominant against the Mariners.

Sale’s record fell to 15-7 on the season, but his ERA improved to 3.14. The second half of the season wasn’t kind to Sale as he had only one win up to his start against the Mariners on Aug .26. Sale would later pitch another complete game loss in his next start against the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 31 unfortunately.

Aug 9, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Sale Pitches Complete Game Against Royals

The Sox were on its way to a fourth consecutive losing season in September, and had nothing left to play for. Apparently Sale didn’t get the memo as he had perhaps his best start against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Sale pitched his sixth and final complete game of the season against the Royals on Sept. 16. The Sox were able to cruise to a 7-4 victory over Kansas City behind Sale’s solid start. Sale recorded 10 strikeouts and gave up two earned runs against the Royals. Sale’s six complete games in 2016 were the most for him in any single season in his career.

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