Sale fans 6 in complete-game win over Jays
CHICAGO -- The White Sox rallied for three unearned runs against Mark Buehrle in the eighth inning, claiming a 4-2 victory Monday night in the series opener with the Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field that last one hour and 54 minutes. Chris Sale didn't reach double-digits in strikeouts, but he did pitch his first complete game of 2015.
"Any time you can pick up your bullpen and leave them out of it, that's huge," said Sale, who didn't issue a walk in his eighth career complete game. "That's what you strive for, filling in innings, getting deep into games and giving your team a chance to win. Fortunately for myself, my team came back for us and we won."
Gordon Beckham started the eighth by reaching on Jose Reyes' fielding error on a routine ground ball to short. Two outs later, Adam Eaton singled to center. Jose Abreu hit the next pitch for a game-tying single to center, and Melky Cabrera followed with a two-run double down the left-field line.
Video: TOR@CWS: Abreu plates Beckham, ties the game
"To me, whenever a guy makes an error you try even harder to get out of a jam because these guys are diving, making plays for you the whole game," said Buehrle of the eighth. "When a mistake like that happens, obviously he didn't try to do it, you just go up to him and say 'Hey, I know you didn't mean to and I tried to pick you up and it's more my fault because I didn't make pitches to get the final outs of the inning.'"
• Buehrle gives former club vintage performance
Sale, who was named to his fourth straight All-Star Game, finished with six strikeouts, ending his stretch of 10-plus strikeout efforts at eight straight, but allowed just five hits to the best hitting team in baseball. Chris Colabello and Josh Donaldson accounted for the two runs with solo homers.
Video: TOR@CWS: Sale induces game-ending double play
The White Sox scored their first one off Buehrle in the fourth, when Cabrera singled and moved to third on Avisail Garcia's soft single to right. The throw from All-Star outfielder Jose Bautista short-hopped Colabello at first, allowing Cabrera to score the tying run.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Cabrera's revenge: Cabrera picked a good time to get back at his former organization with a two-run double in the eighth that proved to be the difference. It was Cabrera's third double in his last four games. Cabrera, who spent the last two years in Toronto, extended his hitting streak to five games, and three of those have involved multiple hits. More >
Video: TOR@CWS: Melky's double gives White Sox the lead
Bringer of Rain: Donaldson lived up to his nickname in the sixth inning with a solo homer to left field. According to Statcast™, Donaldson's 20th homer was projected to travel 389 feet and left his bat at 106 mph. It was Donaldson's second homer in the last six games, and he has eight RBIs over the same span.
Video: TOR@CWS: Donaldson drills a solo shot to center
Coming up C's: Runs come at a premium when Sale is on the mound, but the Blue Jays were able to take an early 1-0 lead when Colabello led off the third with a homer to left-center field. Colabello continues to be a surprise performer this year and this marked his second home run in as many games. His eighth of the year traveled an estimated 424 feet, according to Statcast™, and left his bat at 104 mph.
Video: TOR@CWS: Colabello hits a solo dinger to center
Near misses: There was some hard contact off of Buehrle, but not much run scoring. In the sixth, after Alexei Ramirez opened with a single, Beckham lined out to center. Tyler Flowers then hit a long drive to center that Kevin PIllar grabbed with a leaping catch at the wall, and Carlos Sanchez's inning-ending groundout ricocheted off of Buehrle and was barehanded by Donaldson, who nailed Sanchez at first.
Video: TOR@CWS: Pillar jumps to make the catch on the track
QUOTABLE
"Nobody likes to stand out there for three hours, nobody. Fans, players, coaches, nobody. So get the ball and go. Another thing, too, trust your catcher and don't shake off." -- Sale, on his approach to pitching and what he learned from Buehrle
Video: TOR@CWS: Sale, Flowers on win over Blue Jays
"There should be a school. They have to go to Mark Buehrle school before they get to the big leagues. You just grab the ball and throw. It's fun to watch." -- White Sox manager Robin Ventura, on the fast-paced game
Video: TOR@CWS: Ventura on Sale's streak, facing familar foe
UNDER TWO HOURS? NO SURPRISE
The short time it took to complete Monday's series opener should be no surprise. Per Fangraphs, Buehrle is No. 1 among pitchers in pace and Sale ranks ninth.
"Everybody enjoys fast games when I'm pitching, but I want to enjoy a fast game in the dugout," Buehrle said.
Video: TOR@CWS: Buehrle throws eight innings in loss
UNDER REVIEW
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons won both of his challenges in the fourth inning. Donaldson was hit by a pitch on the lower part of his left leg, but it wasn't noticed by home-plate umpire Sam Holbrook. Gibbons asked for a challenge, and Donaldson was awarded first base upon review.
Video: TOR@CWS: Hit-by-pitch ruled after overturned call
In the bottom half of the inning, Adam LaRoche lined out to Colabello at first base. Colabello applied a tag on Garcia, who was called safe diving back into the bag, until a replay review overturned the call.
Video: TOR@CWS: Colabello gets DP on overturned call
WHAT'S NEXT
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have yet to officially announce a starter for Tuesday night's game against the White Sox, which starts at 8:10 p.m. ET. Left-hander Felix Doubront is expected to get the call, but Toronto also has the option of promoting prospect Daniel Norris from Triple-A Buffalo.
White Sox: Jose Quintana takes the mound Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. CT after winning his last start in St. Louis that was delayed three times by rain. Quintana has made seven straight quality starts, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.78 ERA.
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