CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale may not be the frontrunner for the American League Cy Young award, but he is in the conversation.

The 23-year-old left-hander won his 14th game of the season on Sunday. He now trails only Jered Weaver of the Angels and David Price of Tampa Bay who have 15 victories apiece this year.

Sale struck out 11 Oakland hitters in Chicago’s 7-2 win, marking the third time this season he has had 10 or more in a game. By all standards, Sale has to be considered with the top pitchers in the game.

“I would put him right up there with anybody,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “You feel confident when he goes out here. He has great stuff and is a competitor and everything you want. He is young, but he is one of the best (pitchers) in the league.”

A.J. Pierzynski once again provided his team the go-ahead runs with a sixth-inning two-run home run off of Oakland starter and loser Bartolo Colon. Pierzynski also scored from first base on a quirky groundout to shortstop saw that no infielders on the right side cover third base or home.

“We were talking about that kind of play the other night, usually that happens on a bunt,” Pierzynski said. “(Baltimore manager) Buck Showalter used to run that play when he had a fast guy on first base. As soon as I hit second I saw (the infielders) run into each other, so I thought I would try for third with only one out. When I looked up I saw that (the catcher) was in nowhere land between first base and home so I figured I’d try it and luckily it worked out.”

Sale is ignoring all the talk about the baseball awards season.

“Never,” Sale said when asked if he thinks about the Cy Young award. “Maybe at the end of the season when all is said and done. Right now I still have a job to do and still have 24 other guys fighting, coming in ready to win. If you start looking at that kind of (stuff) you miss what is going on in front of you.”

Sale is fourth in the league in ERA (2.60) and third in opponents’ batting average against (.220 ).

“His numbers have to be as good as anyone else out there,” Pierzynski said. “There are other guys in the conversation but he has to be high on the list for Cy Young and one of the best guys in the American League.”