Final
Sale tries to rack up more K's vs. Twins
Jun 24, 2015 - 12:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Sale's strikeout pace put him in some elite company last week.The Chicago White Sox hurler looks to notch at least 12 strikeouts in a sixth straight outing on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins.
Sale has fanned 75 batters while going 3-2 with a 1.19 earned run average over his last six starts, walking only seven batters over that run as well. He is second in the American League with 119 strikeouts and is the third player since 1900 to record at least 12 strikeouts in five straight games, joining Pedro Martinez (1999) and Randy Johnson (1998).
Sale is the first pitcher since Johnson in 2002 to strike out 10 or more batters in six consecutive games and Johnson was the last to have a seven-game run of double-digit strikeouts, doing so from April 13-May 13, 2001.
The left-handed Sale has seen Chicago lose each of his past two outings by a 2-1 score, however. He was credited with a loss to Tampa Bay on June 14, allowing two runs and fanning 12 over 6 2/3 innings. Sale then matched a season high with 14 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings of a no-decision versus Texas on Friday, going perfect through the first six frames.
Chicago manager Robin Ventura opted to lift Sale after he struck out the side in the eighth inning to reach 114 pitches, but closer David Robertson allowed a pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth.
"Sale has a long way to go in this season, and you're trying to take care of him," said Ventura. "Other guys have jobs to do too. It's tough."
Sale is 1-2 versus the Twins this season and his worst start of the season came in Minnesota on April 30. He was tagged for eight earned runs and struck out only three over three innings of a 12-2 loss. Lifetime against the Twins, the 26-year-old is 7-3 with a pair of saves and a 3.29 ERA in 19 games (11 starts).
Phil Hughes will try to celebrate his 29th birthday today with a second straight winning start as he gets the call for the Twins.
Hughes won for the first time in four outings on Friday with a 7-2 decision over the Chicago Cubs. He gave up just one run and two hits over eight innings, striking our four without a walk. He improved to 5-6 on the season with a 4.47 ERA.
"Tonight he was excellent," teammate Trevor Plouffe said of Hughes. "Whenever he's on the mound, we know we have a good chance."
The right-hander is just 4-5 lifetime versus the White Sox with a 3.07 ERA in 17 games (13 starts). He gave up two runs over seven innings of a no-decision on the road the last time he faced them on May 22.
The White Sox evened this series with last night's 6-2 win, getting four hits from Jose Abreu and seven solid innings by Jeff Samardzija. The starter gave up two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in Chicago's third victory in four games.
"I thought I got some quick outs," Samardzija said. "I was just in the zone and stayed away from their power guys."
Geovany Soto drove in a pair of runs, while Adam Eaton, Melky Cabrera and Gordon Beckham each had an RBI as well.
Eddie Rosario hit a home run for the Twins and Kurt Suzuki knocked in the other run. Mike Pelfrey took the loss after giving up three runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 frames.
"They got a lot of hits off Mike tonight," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "I don't know how many times they hit balls where we weren't playing."
The Twins, who have lost three of four, had a six-game series home winning streak snapped, falling to 8-4 against the White Sox this season.
- CHICAGO: 1
MINNESOTA: 6
Final
Jun 24 3:30 PM - Brian Dozier singles to left field. Shane Robinson scores.
White Sox 1, Twins 6 Bot 7, 1 OutJun 24 3:00 PM - S.Robinson singled to center, Suzuki scored, K.Vargas to second.
White Sox 1, Twins 4 Bot 7, 0 OutsJun 24 2:58 PM - Shane Robinson singles to left center field, advances to 3rd. Kennys Vargas scores. Kurt Suzuki scores. Fielding error by Adam Eaton.
White Sox 1, Twins 5 Bot 7, 0 OutsJun 24 2:57 PM - Suzuki hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Me.Cabrera, Plouffe scored.
White Sox 1, Twins 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsJun 24 2:07 PM - Kurt Suzuki out on a sacrifice fly to left field to Melky Cabrera. Trevor Plouffe scores.
White Sox 1, Twins 3 Bot 4, 1 OutJun 24 2:07 PM - Nunez doubled to center, Tor.Hunter scored, Plouffe to third.
White Sox 1, Twins 2 Bot 4, 1 OutJun 24 2:05 PM - Eduardo Nunez doubles to center field. Trevor Plouffe to third. Torii Hunter scores.
White Sox 1, Twins 2 Bot 4, 1 OutJun 24 2:05 PM - Adam Eaton lines out to right field to Torii Hunter.
Jun 24 1:11 PM - CHICAGO: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 24 1:11 PM
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