Levine: Chris Sale Is First In Majors To 7 Wins
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- White Sox left-hander Chris Sale looked nothing like the best pitcher in the American League to start the ballgame Saturday evening. The hapless Twins had Sale on the ropes 31 pitches into the first inning and put two runs on the board.
After a conversation with pitching coach Don Cooper, Sale righted the ship and threw seven innings, gaining the win in Chicago's eventual 7-2 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.
Sale screamed into his glove and hit himself in the head with the ball after hitting two Twins batters with pitches in the first.
"When I get mad, I feel like hurting myself," Sale said. "I don't really get it. That is another thing I have to get over. That is the immaturity thing coming out. That is when the over-throwing happens. I just have to quit being an idiot out there. Trust in the process and rely on my guys. I got some good ones behind me."
Sale became the first pitcher to seven wins in baseball this season. He has won each of his seven starts this season, a feat that has been accomplished by a White Sox pitcher four times previously to start a season. The emotional Sale's ERA went up slightly from 1.66 to 1.79.
The White Sox extended their lead in the American League Central to five games. That's the second-biggest division lead in baseball. The Chicago Cubs have a 7.5-game lead in the National League Central.
Sale reverted back to some old habits in the first inning that had him on the ropes. He recovered nicely, going seven innings and allowing those two runs on three hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.
"I dug our guys a pretty good hole right out of the gate," Sale said. "These guys were fighting for me out there. We were down 2-0, and I had close to 40 pitches after the first. They did not quit on me. They did not give up and fought even harder as the game went on. That is the reason I am sitting here (7-0 record)."
The White Sox are now 21-10 on the season. They've won 11 out of their last 15 and scored 31 runs in the seventh inning alone, including three on Saturday night.
It was another aspect of the game that caught manager Robin Ventura's attention, though.
"We are playing really good defense," Ventura said. "You don't have to be swinging the bat great to make an impact. We know we are going to swing it better at some point. As far as the team feeling goes, it's a great feeling coming to the ballpark. These guys stick together. They are pulling for each other. People are coming in everyday with the right frame of mind and fight though process."
Third baseman Todd Frazier broke an 0-for-20 slump with his eighth home run, down the left field line came in the third inning off of starter Ervin Santana. Frazier has hit five of his eight long balls at home this season. Frazier also made three outstanding plays on defense in support of Sale and his sinker.
"You have to split both of them up," Frazier said about offense and defense. "You have to do it despite popping up or striking out. You have a lot on your mind. The way we are going if you don't get to a ball you should get, we will be on you. We will do it in a good way because we know we can make those plays. This team has been a lot of fun to be around."
The White Sox's five-game lead in the AL Central is their biggest since June 13, 2008.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.