White Sox 1 - 7 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Sale hopes to keep White Sox in first place vs. Tigers

Jul 21, 2012 - 1:19 PM

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(Sports Network) - Chris Sale attempts to continue his Cy Young-caliber season on Saturday afternoon when the Chicago White Sox take on the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a weekend set.

Sale has encountered very few stumbling blocks in his first season as a starter, going 11-2 with a 2.11 ERA, striking out 102 batters in 110 2/3 innings

The 6-foot-6 southpaw has won eight consecutive decisions dating back to May 17. He allowed 10 hits in eight innings of work in his last start against Kansas City on July 15, but allowed just one earned run in the 2-1 triumph.

"Obviously, a lot of hits," Sale said in regards to Monday's start. "You just try to brush that off and keep going about what you need to do and have that mindset and go out and still make pitches."

Sale faced the Tigers on April 15 and had one of his more pedestrian starts of the season, going five innings while allowing three runs in a 5-2 loss.

Detroit will send 23-year old right-hander Rick Porcello to the mound and he has been average at best this season, going 6-5 with a 4.66 ERA in 18 starts.

After winning three of his final four starts in June, Porcello has struggled in July. Though the Tigers have won both of his starts, he has a 7.71 ERA and has allowed 24 base runners in 9 1/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions.

Porcello has started nine games against the rival White Sox in his career, going 4-4 with a 5.50 ERA.

The Tigers managed to pull to within a half-game of the division-leading White Sox on Friday night when they took the first game of the series, 4-2.

Justin Verlander (11-5) continued to dazzle for Detroit, going eight strong innings and allowing just four hits, two walks, and two earned runs while striking out six, lowering his ERA to 2.42 in the process.

"Especially against a guy like (Jake) Peavy, I knew that if I gave up much more, it's game over," Verlander said.

Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth innings for his 18th save.

Peavy (7-7) pitched well for the White Sox despite earning the loss, striking out seven and walking none in seven innings, though he did allow four earned runs.

The White Sox got out to an early lead behind a two-run home run by Alejandro De Aza in the top of the third inning, but the Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, capped off by an RBI double by Delmon Young that proved to be the game-winner.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder each had two hits and an RBI for Detroit.

The Tigers are now winners of three games in a row, while the White Sox have dropped three straight.

The Tigers have taken 13 of 16 meetings with the White Sox at Comerica.






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