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 The Houston Astros are the latest team to find that out after
Sale's latest dominant start led the Chicago White Sox to a 2-1
victory Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field that ended a four-game
losing streak and avoided a sweep.
Sale (9-0) threw his second consecutive complete game and third of
the season. He earned his ninth straight win to start the season,
becoming the first pitcher in the majors since Brandon Webb in 2008
to do so.
"I just try to go out and do my job every fifth day," said Sale, who
joined Eddie Cicotte (1919) as the only White Sox pitchers to win
their first nine starts. "That's all I'm trying to do. (Being) 9-0
is cool. It is. I enjoy it. I enjoyed snapping the skid we were in
even more so than that."
After throwing a complete game in 99 pitches against the New York
Yankees on May 13, Sale threw 107 to beat the Astros. It was a
needed win for the White Sox (25-16), who were riding a season-high
skid and facing the potential of being swept for the first time in
2016.
 Sale, who had 274 strikeouts last season, has sacrificed high
strikeout totals for effectiveness. He finished with nine strikeouts
against Houston, however, didn't walk any and the only run he
allowed was a solo homer by Evan Gattis (2-for-3) on the first pitch
of the eighth.
Sale allowed a one-out single in the ninth to George Springer, but
got Carlos Correa to fly out and struck out Tyler White looking to
end the game.
"The numbers on the scoreboard will tell you a little bit, just
because he's not overthrowing and he's not throwing every fastball
at 96 to 99 (mph) or whatever he used to be," Astros manager A.J.
Hinch said of the White Sox's ace left-hander. "He still has an easy
way of dialing it up in a count or late in a game. He was throwing
some of his hardest fastballs late, but you can tell he's making a
conscious effort to be a pitcher more than just a dominant thrower."
Sale's strikeout total moved him past Doc White and tied him with
Ted Lyons for eighth all-time in career strikeouts among White Sox
pitchers (1,073).
Collin McHugh took the loss despite a strong start for the Astros
(17-25), who finished 3-4 on their road trip to Boston and Chicago.
Despite toting a 5.58 ERA into the game, McHugh went seven innings,
struck out eight and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk.
He got some defensive help in the first from George Springer, who
robbed Jose Abreu of a potential home run with a leaping grab at the
fence, and also retired three straight hitters in the sixth to
strand Adam Eaton at third following a lead-off triple.
"He was excellent," Hinch said. "That was probably as good of stuff
as he's had for as long as he stayed in there. He battled the entire
night. He had his curveball going, he had first pitch strikes (and)
he finished at-bats better."
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Jerry Sands went 2-for-3 with an RBI single to lead the way
offensively for the White Sox, who manufactured a run in the seventh
that turned out to be the difference. After Jimmy Rollins hit a
one-out infield single, he stole second, advanced to third on Sands'
single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Avila to make it 2-0.
Gattis homered off the first pitch of the ensuing inning.
"It was a huge run," Rollins said. "When Gattis hit the home run I
was like, 'That's why you keep pushing.' Alex had a big at-bat, did
what he was supposed to do, get the ball to the outfielder (and)
gave me an opportunity to score."
Backed by Sale, the White Sox clung to 1-0 lead on a run scratched
out against McHugh in the second. Todd Frazier hit a lead-off
single, stole second and came around to score on Sands' two-out
single.
"When you see a guy like that, you raise your level (and) you're
excited as a batter, but at the same time you understand that if I
get that one pitch and I don't do something with it, it's basically
game over," Frazier said. "That's what he's been doing. He's been
lights out. It's something fun to watch."
NOTES: White Sox manager Robin Ventura had some changes in his
starting lineup in order to give some regulars a day off. He started
2B Carlos Sanchez, DH Jerry Sands and C Alex Avila for 2B Brett
Lawrie, DH Avisail Garcia and C Dioner Navarro. ... Ventura also
moved SS Jimmy Rollins from the second spot in the batting order
down to sixth. "With (Sanchez) in there, you can do a little bit
with him in case you need to pinch hit at some point with him in
that spot," Ventura said. "With Jimmy, it's just getting another guy
with more veteran presence down a little later in the lineup that (Lawrie)
would be at." ... Houston manager A.J. Hinch sat rookie 3B Colin
Moran, C Jason Castro and CF Colby Rasmus, all left-handed hitters,
against LHP Chris Sale. ... Evan Gattis started behind the plate for
the Astros. Gattis was recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi on
Tuesday, where he brushed up on his receiving skills for the added
role of backup catcher. ... Hinch said injured CF Carlos Gomez
(bruised rib cage) would likely begin a rehab assignment next week.
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