Sale Racks Up 13 Ks As White Sox Sweep Yankees
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chris Sale struck out 13 in 7 2-3 stellar innings to get his 15th victory, Alex Rios hit a go-ahead homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 2-1 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep in the meeting of division leaders.
Sale (15-4) outpitched New York's Phil Hughes, allowing one walk and three hits, including Derek Jeter's solo homer in the sixth -- the Yankee star's third homer in as many nights. Addison Reed worked the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances.
New York's loss and Tampa Bay's victory over Kansas City reduced the Yankees' lead in the AL East to three games, their smallest since before play on June 26.
The win gave the White Sox their first three-game sweep of the Yankees at home since 1991, the year U.S. Cellular Field (then known as new Comiskey Park) opened.
Jeter hit his 13th homer to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth. But Rios responded in the bottom half with his 20th homer to put Chicago ahead.
Hughes (12-11) allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
Chicago scored first for the first time in the series when Gordon Beckham doubled, Dewayne Wise reached on a bunt single and Kevin Youkilis hit a sacrifice fly in the third.
Notes: Jeter acknowledged that it takes extra time now to get ready and at age 38 he's making it work with a standout season that seen him climb to No. 11 on the all-time hits list. He has also surpassed 250 career homers. "You got to get here a little earlier and stay a little longer. I'm sure that applies to most people who are standing here right now," Jeter said Wednesday. "I think that's normal, that's for everyone. My fifth year wasn't like my first year, just like this year isn't like five years ago." ... Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte (fractured left ankle) threw off of flat ground on Wednesday, and is scheduled to throw again on Saturday. Pettitte said he is building toward getting on a mound, but is "not quite there yet." There is no timetable for his return. ... Adam Dunn of the White Sox struck out in the third for a club-record 178th time, breaking the mark he set last season. Dunn fanned a career-high 199 times in 2010 with the Nationals.
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