ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The second inning began like it was going to be Chris Sale's downfall. Instead, it became a momentum-builder.

Sale was roughed up in the second stanza for four hits, including a home run. He also walked a batter.

Yet he escaped allowing only two runs.

Given new life, the left-hander with a mid-90s fastball breezed from there, shutting out the Texas Rangers over his final five innings in a 5-2 victory for the Chicago White Sox.

"The turning point was that second inning," Sale, who improved to 3-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.83, said. "Something I’ve had to learn is the game isn’t over in the second inning.

“I came out of that inning feeling strong mentally. I just kept pushing until the bullpen took over, and those guys kept it right where it was."

Some of the damage in the second inning came from the Rangers hitting good pitches.

"But a couple were bad pitches," Sale admitted.

Jeff Baker drove Sale’s low breaking ball over the left-field wall an estimated 393 feet to cut the White Sox lead to 2-1. A walk and singles by Geovany Soto and Craig Gentry loaded the bases. Ian Kinsler drilled a Sale pitch off the left-field wall, but due to a baserunning error by Soto, the Rangers produced only one score.

With a two-run lead gone and the bases loaded, Sale went to work. He struck out Elvis Andrus for the second out after a long battle and induced Lance Berkman into a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop.

He went on to retire 10 Rangers in a row at one point.

"For him to come out of that inning only giving up two [runs] was big," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "That’s a tough lineup he was facing. He kept them off balance."

Sale allowed six hits but only one after the second inning. He walked two and struck out seven. He finished strong, too, pitching a 1-2-3 seventh with a pair of strikeouts.

Stopping the White Sox’s three-game losing streak was important to Sale.

"When you want to stop a streak, it’s important to go out and do everything you can to get a win," he said. "That’s what I did."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Chicago White Sox used a pair of seventh-inning homers to even the three-game series at a game apiece with a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night before 34,677 at Rangers Ballpark.

How it happened: Conor Gillaspie launched a home run over the right-field wall an estimated 384 feet to snap a 2-2 tie leading off the seventh. Two outs later Alejandro De Aza lined a two-run shot into the seats near the right-field foul pole, at 353 feet. The White Sox have homered in 10 straight games. Alex Rios staked the White Sox to a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, scoring De Aza, who doubled to open the game. Paul Konerko opened the second with a double and, after a Gillaspie single, scored on Tyler Flowers’ double-play ball to make it 2-0. The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the second on a Jeff Baker home run and Ian Kinsler’s RBI single.

What it means: The White Sox ended a three-game losing streak with much improved play over the previous night’s 10-6 loss to Texas. For the second straight game, the White Sox couldn’t hold an early 2-0 lead. But Chris Sale kept middle-inning relief from becoming a factor by pitching seven innings. The bullpen, struggling with a 7.43 ERA in the last eight games, got the job done ... but not without an anxious moment or two. The first two Rangers that Jesse Crain faced in the eighth singled. But he worked out of trouble with final-out help from Matt Thornton. Addison Reed, who converted his 15th straight save, stirred the pot by hitting pinch hitter A.J. Pierzynski with two out in the ninth, followed by a single by Kinsler. But Reed ended it with a strikeout.

Outside the box: What is it about Sale and the American League West? With his win over the Rangers, Sale is now 8-0 against the West. He came into the game with an ERA of 3.18 in games against the West, with 69 strikeouts in 68 innings. Sale allowed only two Rangers to reach base in the final five innings of a strong seven-inning start. Once handed a three-run lead, Sale finished his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, striking out two and fanning Kinsler on his 110th pitch. Sale held the hot Texas bats to six hits while striking out seven.

Offbeat: The White Sox caught a break in the second inning, when Kinsler’s line drive off the left-field wall with the bases loaded scored only one Rangers run. Credit left fielder De Aza’s quick recovery. Also credit some questionable base running. Geovany Soto, at second base, didn’t appear to get a good read on the ball. Craig Gentry, the runner at first, ran up on Soto and was only a few feet behind when touching second. Soto had to stop at third. Sale made it an important play by retiring the next two hitters to prevent further damage and keep the score 2-2.

Up next: Right-hander Jake Peavy (3-1), coming off a solid performance in a winning effort over the Tampa Bay Rays, will be opposed by Justin Grimm (2-0) in the conclusion of the three-game series with Texas in a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday at Rangers Ballpark. The forecast calls for a game-time temperature of 50 degrees after a cold front passes.

The early wildness Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale displayed Thursday night -- including two walks in the second inning -- was remedied by a brief conversation with catcher Tyler Flowers.

(Read full post)

Here's a quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday:

How it happened: Coming off the worst start of his career, Chris Sale pitched good enough to win, giving up two earned runs in seven innings. But the Sox committed two costly errors, including one by Sale, against the Jays, who got a stellar effort from 2012 NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey. He pitched six shutout innings before leaving with neck and back stiffness. The Jays took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an Edwin Encarnacion RBI single and scored two runs in the fifth when an Adam Dunn error scored Emilio Bonifacio and Raji Davis hit an RBI double. Tyler Flowers drove in the only Sox run in the eighth inning with a double that scored Alexei Ramirez.

What it means: The Sox had a chance to win their four-game series against the Jays and put a positive end to a tough 10-game road trip. Instead their ace lost his second straight start, the victim of a lack of run support, which has been a familar refrain early in the season for the Sox, who had just four hits. Dayan Viciedo could be headed to the disabled list after suffering an oblique strain.

Next: The Sox return home to open a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. The Sox's Jake Peavy (2-1, 3.93 ERA) will be opposed by the Twins' Vancer Worley (0-2, 10.50) in the 7:10 p.m. CT start at U.S. Cellular Field.

CLEVELAND -- Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale set out to be the stopper, be the man to stop his team’s current four-game skid and do so against a divisional opponent.

Instead, the 6-foot-6 Cy Young hopeful left Cleveland with his worst outing as a professional, allowing eight earned runs in 4.1 innings and earning his first loss of the season, as the White Sox fell 9-4 to the Indians.

The end result elicited plenty of self-deprecation, with Sale referring to the outing as “terrible” and to himself as “an idiot.”

“It was just leaving bad pitches to good hitters,” Sale said of Saturday’s loss. “Nothing more than a terrible, terrible day. Our team needed a better effort and deserved a better effort. I didn’t give it to them tonight.”

Sale came into the contest with not only a strong career track record, but one of relative dominance against the Indians. Saturday marked his first career loss to the Tribe, having gone 2-0 with an ERA of 2.29 in his previous three starts. Before being converted to a starter, Sale recorded three saves across 11 relief appearances.

Conversely, Indians starting pitcher Zach McAllister -- a player with a considerably less dominating reputation --pitched into the seventh inning for his first victory of the season, striking out six and walking just one.

Though Sale’s previous two starts went at least seven innings, Saturday afternoon saw a different pitcher -- one who seemingly could not locate any of his pitches, all of which started to appear the same as the game drew on.

“I think you start watching replays of it and you see him being in the middle of the plate a lot,” said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Sale’s outing. “There wasn’t much difference between his changeup and some of the fastballs he was running in there. You get it over the middle of the plate and [the Indians] have some guys who can swing the bat. They didn’t miss.”

In his four-plus innings of work, Sale allowed eight hits, two of which were home runs that would net the Indians six runs. After he was provided a two-run cushion in the first inning, Sale gave up a home run to Cleveland’s designated hitter Nick Swisher, the veteran’s first homer of the year.

In the fifth inning, after allowing a single to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and a double to second baseman Ryan Raburn, Sale hit Swisher in the leg with a backdoor slider to load the bases. The slider would come back to haunt Sale once again, as he would hang one in the middle of the plate, allowing Cleveland first baseman Mark Reynolds to hit his second career grand slam.

Though the mid-April weather in Cleveland left a lot to be desired on the day -- pelting fans and players with rain and sleet through various innings -- Sale was not going to make excuses for his poor outing.

“I didn’t think I had too much of anything today,” Sale said. “It was a grind. McAllister came out and did what he had to do. I’m not here to make excuses. I didn’t do what I had to do to get it done. I just have to do work these next four days and do everything I can to change this."

In the middle of the fifth inning, Sale was given a warning by home plate umpire Ed Hickox after he hit Indians left fielder Michael Brantley with a fastball immediately after the grand slam by Reynolds. It was his second hit batter of the inning.

Sale, well aware of the recent consternation throughout the league when it comes to hit batters and retribution, was adamant that he did not hit Brantley intentionally, but that he overthrew the fastball out of frustration.

“With Swisher, it was just a slider I yanked in,” said Sale. “Brantley was just me being an idiot, honestly -- just me trying to throw it by him. You had some things happen in that previous inning, I was just trying to go out there and be more, be better than I am. Unfortunately, it got away and it hit him.”

“I understand it’s a difficult spot to be in,” he said. “If you’re going to hit a guy, you don’t do it there. I think I know enough about the game, if I was going to do it intentionally, it’s not going to be in that situation or at that time. Not only does it look bad on my part, but it looks bad on the team. That’s not what I’m about or what we’re about.

“On top of that, you now have targets on some of these guys in here, and it’s not their fault I gave up eight runs today. It’s not their fault that grand slam left the yard. It’s on me. All that said, I had no intentions of doing that, and I don’t think I ever will.”

CLEVELAND -- Home runs off the bats of Nick Swisher, Mark Reynolds and Yan Gomes paved the way as the Cleveland Indians topped the Chicago White Sox 9-4.

How it happened: White Sox starter Chris Sale lasted just 4 1/3 innings after allowing eight earned runs. Sale was provided two runs of support in the first, but a two-run home run from designated hitter Nick Swisher in the bottom of the first would quickly erase the early lead. The wheels would completely fall off for Sale in the fifth inning, as he loaded the bases on two base hits and a hit batter. A grand slam off of the bat of Indians’ first baseman Mark Reynolds and another hit batter would seal his fate. He struck out just three batters while walking two. Indians starting pitcher Zach McAllister dominated the White Sox through his 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out six and walking none while allowing one earned run. Alejandro De Aza took a full-count pitch from Tribe reliever Bryan Shaw 408 feet to right field for his second home run of the season.

What it means: The White Sox have now dropped their fifth straight game and will remain at the bottom of the AL Central. Manager Robin Ventura had recently praised his veteran position players for not panicking early in the season, but Chicago cannot seem to find an answer when it comes to consistent starting pitching. Left-hander Jose Quintana is the only pitcher to get out of the sixth inning in the team’s past four games.

Outside the box: The eight earned runs by Sale sets his career-worst mark (32 starts). He had allowed five runs in four different starts in 2012. It also marks an end to the dominant streak against the Indians. In his three previous starts, Sale had a record of 2-0, striking out 37 batters in just 34.1 innings of work. After allowing the grand slam to Reynolds, Sale hit Indians left fielder Michael Brantley with a pitch. He would receive a warning from home plate umpire Ed Hickox.

Offbeat: White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers went 0-for-4 on the afternoon, failing to get a ball out of the infield while striking out three times. He has not recorded a hit in his past 21 at-bats. Flowers undoubtedly has power; but his long swing, coupled with not playing every day, has led to little success through the early portion of the 2013 season.

Up next: The White Sox will look to avoid their second-consecutive sweep, closing out their three-game series against the Indians on Sunday afternoon at 12:05 CT. Jake Peavy (1-1, 5.56 ERA) will square off against former Chicago relief pitcher Brett Myers (0-1, 12.19 ERA).

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox are not concerned with how it looks, only that the desired result is achieved.

If that sounds a lot like the “Winning Ugly" season of 1983, well that’s only fitting since the White Sox wore those old red, white and blue jerseys to honor the former American League West champs for the first of 13 home Sunday games this season.

It’s not lost on the current club that despite winning their first two home series, there are plenty of areas for improvement. The pessimist can call it unfulfilled potential. The optimists look at it as a good sign moving forward.

“I think we have a chance to be a pretty good ballclub, especially if we clean up some things,” catcher Tyler Flowers said. “I think the offense will get going a little more than it has and our pitching has been quality so far.”

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- Before the 2013 season started Monday, second-year manager Robin Ventura said the Chicago White Sox had only one goal.

“I want to get to the playoffs,” he said.

Sounds simple enough. Anything else after you make it? Opening Day is for dreamers and all.

“I'd figure that out when we get there,” Ventura said. “But that's the first thing that needs to happen.”

So, no, the Sox weren’t happy to win 85 games and give Detroit a good scare last season. And no, they’re not completely satisfied with being an “under-the-radar” team this year.

“There’s a little chip,” Ventura said. “You take that hit and then it becomes personal. It’s good for me that it happens to these guys because it’s easy to rally them together and have the motivation come after that. But I think the initial hit to it is it becomes personal.”

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- On a day when runs were hard to come by, the defense managed to steal a little of the spotlight.

The Chicago White Sox not only got a solid performance from Tyler Flowers behind the plate, Gordon Beckham made the play of the day at second base -- one that was good enough for starter Chris Sale to consider it as important as anything that happened in Monday's 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals.

In a one-run game in the seventh inning with a Royals runner on first base, Beckham made a diving catch to his right to steal a hit away from Lorenzo Cain. One batter later, Jeff Francoeur hit a grounder to third baseman Jeff Keppinger that went for a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.

“That’s just Gordon; he’s a maniac over there,” Sale said. “You almost come to expect that now. He’s just been so good, so solid for so long. He definitely saved the game right there. You’re looking at guys on first and second and no outs instead of a guy on first and then we ended up getting a double play after that. It ended up saving the day for us.”

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- Chris Sale certainly has the stuff to be a staff ace, the only question was how he would handle the role emotionally.

After one major test, the Chicago White Sox are more than happy with their rotation’s new front man.

Sale fired 7 2/3 scoreless innings and the bullpen cleaned up the rest in a 1-0 victory that was earned with every bit of savvy their 24-year-old pitcher could muster.

Sale kept the Royals off balance by changing speeds off a blazing fastball and causing plenty of havoc with a devastating slider.

“It was fun, it was exciting,” Sale said. “It was everything I thought it would be and more. I thought I did a real good job of kind of collecting myself and not getting too amped up too early or too late and it ended up being a pretty good day.”

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- Solid pitching and just enough offense got the Chicago White Sox off on the right foot Monday with a 1-0 victory on Opening Day against the Kansas City Royals.

How it happened: Chris Sale showed that the role of staff ace fits him just fine. The left-hander, making his first Opening Day start, went 7 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing seven hits. It isn’t easy replacing a fan favorite so Tyler Flowers made it easy on himself, stepping into A.J. Pierzynski's shoes by hitting a home run. Alex Rios reached base three times and had the first hit of the season, a single in the first inning.

What it means: The pitching was supposed to lead the White Sox and after one game, anyway, the formula has come through. Sale led the way followed by Nate Jones, Matt Thornton and Addison Reed to close it out in the ninth. Despite planning it this way, the White Sox still expected more offense, but found the going tough against Royals ace James Shields.

Outside the box: The offense still needs to come around, but in the meantime Gordon Beckham's improved defense made a difference. With a runner on first base and nobody out in the seventh inning, Beckham made a diving catch up the middle on a line drive from Lorenzo Cain. He even made the play while being screened by second-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. Instead of two runners on base and nobody out, Sale got the out from Beckham before getting Jeff Francoeur to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Off beat: Monday was just the sixth season opener in U.S. Cellular Field history and the White Sox are now 5-1 in those games. The park opened in 1991, but in the first 14 years of its existence, the White Sox played the first game on the road. They requested that the 1991 opener be played on the road to get as much time as possible to finish construction on the park, but the next 13 were by choice of the league schedule-maker.

Up next: After Tuesday’s off day, the White Sox will send Jake Peavy (11-12, 3.37 ERA in 2012) to the mound in the second game of the season Wednesday. The Royals will counter with Ervin Santana (9-13, 5.16) in the 1:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

CHICAGO -- The element of human connectivity on every ball club is something baseball prognosticators forget to apply when they make their predications for a new season.

The Chicago White Sox were picked by one sports magazine to win just 69 games and finish third this season, but chemistry could be the X Factor for Robin Ventura’s club.

“Every season is different,” said Ventura as his team prepared for Monday’s home opener against the Kansas City Royals. “You are going to figure it out during the season. That will tell you if everything works or doesn’t. I would be disappointed if all the guys didn’t think that they were going to have a good year and play well together.”

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- There is more than just the obvious when it comes to the trust the Chicago White Sox now have in Chris Sale.

Sure the 24-year-old left-hander will get his first Opening Day start on Monday, heading straight to the top of the rotation after just one full season as a major league starter.

What the White Sox will also do is the let Sale run free this year as they release him from the restraints he was under a year ago.

(Read full post)

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- After an abbreviated tune up Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox opening day starter Chris Sale appeared ready to take the mound against Kansas City next Monday at U.S Cellular Field.

Sale allowed just one run and one hit (a solo home run by former Cub Geovany Soto) in four innings, throwing 50 pitches.

“I felt good today, especially against lefties,” he said. “We decided to use more changeups. You wanted to go in and simulate a real game. I treated this like a regular season game as much as I could.”

(Read full post)

The Chicago White Sox planned on hitching their trailer to the starting staff, but already questions have emerged with the members of the rotation.

The biggest worry surrounds John Danks, who is returning from shoulder surgery last summer. From the outset, the White Sox have been prepared for the likelihood that Danks wouldn't start the season on time, but that doesn't make his deliberate recovery pace any easier to take.

Danks will start the season on the disabled list and that isn't necessarily a big deal. What could be a huge deal is how long it takes the left-hander to return to his old form. He's not being asked to anchor the top of the rotation but if he can be a key contributor to the bottom half, the club could be in good shape.

Until he is ready to go, Dylan Axelrod is expected to absorb Danks' early season starts.

The positive news is that Chris Sale and Jake Peavy showed this spring they are ready to lead the starting staff and have the goods to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Sale will get his first Opening Day assignment, followed by the veteran workhorse in Peavy.

Sale made a huge leap in innings from 2011, when he was a reliever, to 2012, when he made an impressive debut as a starter, even getting into the Cy Young Award talk before fading late. Will a heavy workload for a second consecutive year take its toll, or will the youngster thrive with his experience from last year?

If Jose Quintana merely gives the White Sox the same results he did in his rookie season of 2012, everybody will be pleased. If he shows growth, though, the White Sox could end up with the kind of rotation they were hoping for.

Gavin Floyd will be an interesting case. His yearly numbers aren't eye popping, but they are steady. Those numbers, though, make more sense from a guy pitching somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 innings, not the underwhelming 168 innings he pitched last season.

Three keys to success

(Read full post)