Sale Fans 11, White Sox Top A's 7-3
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chris Sale struck out 11 in 6 2-3 innings, A.J. Pierzynski had a two-run home run in a five-run sixth inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-3 on Sunday.
Sale (14-3) reached double digits in strikeouts for the third time this season. He had 10 strikeouts through the first five innings, allowed two runs on solo homer and walked none.
Oakland starter Bartolo Colon (9-9) allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out two and walked two. With the score tied 1-all in the sixth, Pierzynski's 23rd homer put the White Sox up 3-1.
Dewayne Wise then added an RBI single and, after A's left fielder Yoenis Cespedes committed an error and Colon issued an intentional walk, Gordon Beckhman delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single to make it 6-1.
The A's struggled defensively, making three errors and failing to cover home in the seventh when the White Sox added their final run. Pierzynski scored from first on Alexei Ramirez's groundout to shortstop, as third baseman Adam Rosales and shortstop Cliff Pennington bumped on the play, and no one covered home plate.
Sale allowed home runs to Rosales, his second of the year, and Jonny Gomes, who added his 14th homer. Gomes has a homer in each of his last three games. Derek Norris homered off Addison Reed in the ninth.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead on Adam Dunn's sacrifice fly in the third. The A's hit back-to-back, two-out singles in the fifth, but Sale escaped the jam with his 10th strikeout.
Sale was checked in the fifth inning after he appeared to slip on the infield grass while trying to field an infield single. After warm-up tosses, he remained in the game.
Pennington made two errors, but also had two singles against Sale.
Notes: White Sox 1B Paul Konerko (concussion) will undergo a concussion-related test on Monday. If the results are encouraging, the 36-year-old can resume baseball activities Tuesday and be activated from the 7-day disabled list as early as Friday. . 3B Kevin Youkilis (left arm, right knee) was out of the lineup and is considered day-to-day. He was hit by a pitch in the arm Saturday. "It's not a fracture or anything, but it's swollen and it doesn't feel too good," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. .A's 3B Brandon Inge was out of the lineup after he dislocated his right shoulder on a diving play Saturday. He remained in the game after the injury and delivered the go-ahead hit. Inge hopes to return to the lineup Tuesday after Monday's off day. .The A's switched their Wednesday and Thursday probable starters against Kansas City, scheduling Brandon McCarthy for Wednesday and Dan Straily for Thursday. McCarthy (shoulder) returned from the disabled list on Friday.
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