White Sox Beat Tigers 3-1, But Lose Sale To DL
DETROIT (AP) -- With Chris Sale out for the immediate future, John Danks may be the top remaining starter for the Chicago White Sox.
He looked ready to fill that role against Detroit.
Danks pitched impressively into the seventh inning, and Jose Abreu and Dayan Viciedo hit RBI doubles to lift the White Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Tigers on Monday night. After the game, Chicago announced that their ace left-hander, was going on the 15-day disabled list with what the team believed was a strained muscle in his throwing arm.
General manager Rick Hahn said the White Sox are erring on the side of caution, and that an MRI suggested no ligament damage.
"I was more concerned before the game, that he was going to get looked at," Danks said. "To hear that he's going to be OK and not miss too much time, it's great. That's a big shoe to fill."
The 25-year-old Sale threw 127 pitches in a loss to Boston on Thursday. He's 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA on the season.
"You just don't want to take any chances," manager Robin Ventura said. "We got it figured out while the game was going on. Give him some rest and get him healthy."
Chicago scored three runs in the seventh off Anibal Sanchez (0-2) after managing only one hit in the first six innings. Danks (2-0) allowed six hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings, but the Tigers could score only one run off him.
Ronald Belisario got five outs in relief for the White Sox, and Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth for his second save.
The White Sox scored three runs on four hits in a top of the seventh that took about 25 minutes. Abreu's tying double was upheld after a replay review, and Chicago scored another run when a call at the plate was overturned following a review.
Sanchez allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Danks appeared to be in trouble in the second, when the Tigers had the bases loaded with nobody out after two straight walks. Alex Avila brought a run home with a groundout, but Danks got out of the jam thanks to two consecutive popups.
"I dodged a big bullet there," Danks said. "Obviously, two walks in that inning are not good, but to get out of that one with just one run, where we were at, I guess you've got to take that."
The Chicago left-hander went on to post his fourth consecutive quality start to begin the season.
Sanchez looked even better until the game slowed to a crawl in the seventh. After a leadoff double by Conor Gillaspie, Abreu lifted a drive down the line in right that a sliding Torii Hunter was unable to come up with. The ball bounced into the seats for a double, and although the Tigers challenged whether it was fair or foul, the call was upheld and the game was tied.
One out later, Viciedo put the White Sox ahead with a double to deep center, and Alexei Ramirez followed with a single to left. Viciedo initially held up at third, but left fielder Rajai Davis' throw missed everybody, and the ball ended up near the Chicago dugout.
Sanchez retrieved it and threw back to the plate, where a sliding Viciedo was at first called out. The White Sox had lost their challenge earlier in the game, but umpires chose to review the play, and the call was changed, putting Chicago up 3-1. Davis was charged with an error.
"I felt great, and then everything happened in a hurry," Sanchez said. "I made a couple mistakes and they have a very aggressive team, so they were swinging at first pitches and hurt me. I've made a lot of adjustments, and I was throwing my pitches well, and I wasn't tired. Just too many mistakes."
The Tigers put men on first and third with one out in the seventh, but Ian Kinsler hit into a double play. The Tigers had men on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Davis lined out to left and Kinsler hit a grounder to end it as rain began to fall over the field.
Miguel Cabrera's early slump continued. The Detroit slugger went 0 for 4, lowering his average to .206.
NOTES: Chicago's Adam Dunn struck out three times. ... Justin Verlander (2-1) takes the mound for Detroit on Tuesday night. Charlie Leesman will replace Sale, who was scheduled to start that game.
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