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.