Sale Stays Unbeaten As White Sox Beat Orioles 7-1 For Split
BALTIMORE (AP) — Chris Sale took a shutout into the sixth inning, Brett Lawrie homered for the third straight day and the Chicago White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-1, on Sunday for a split of the four-game series.
Jerry Sands had two RBIs for the White Sox, who took a control with a five-run fifth inning against Ubaldo Jimenez (1-3).
Off to the best start of his career, Sale (6-0) allowed one run, five hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander is the first White Sox pitcher to win his first six starts in a season since Jon Garland went 8-0 in 2005.
Sale did not have a perfect inning, and the four walks were only one less than he totaled in his first five starts. But the Orioles didn't get a runner to third base until after he left.
Lawrie went 3 for 3 with two walks and his fourth home run. He went 6 for 14 in the series, along with assembling the first three-game homer streak of his career.
Nolan Reimold drove in the lone run for the Orioles, who fell to 9-3 at home with their second straight defeat at Camden Yards.
After Lawrie put the White Sox ahead with a solo shot in the fourth inning, Chicago sent 10 batters to the plate in the pivotal fifth. Jimenez gave up four hits, walked one and hit two batters before Sands ended his outing with a two-run single that made it 6-0.
Jimenez gave up six runs, seven hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. He's 0-3 with 6.53 ERA in his last four starts.
Baltimore got its lone run in the sixth. Chris Davis singled and advanced on a groundout before Reimold greeted Jake Petricka with an RBI single.
STRANGE HOP
The Orioles recorded an unusual 5-6-3 putout in the fourth inning. After Manny Machado dived for a grounder to third base, the ball caromed off his glove into J.J. Hardy's at shortstop, and the throw to first base was in time to retire Todd Frazier.
ROBERTSON RETURNS
Chicago closer David Robertson was reinstated rom the bereavement list after a three-day absence and worked the ninth inning. The White Sox optioned right-hander Tommy Kahnle to Triple-A Charlotte.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RF Avisail Garcia was held out of the lineup for the second straight day after straining his right hamstring running out a grounder on the final play of Friday's game. "He says it's a little better, but he has not been outside running or anything," manager Robin Ventura said.
Orioles: Closer Zach Britton showed up with crutches and wearing a boot on his left foot, but he said his sore ankle won't be enough to put him on the DL. "Hopefully it's just a few days and maybe I can throw a bullpen or something or at least run on it and see how it feels." ... Hardy left in the sixth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot.
UP NEXT
White Sox: After taking Monday off, Chicago calls upon LHP Jose Quintana (3-1, 1.47 ERA) in the opener of three-game series against visiting Boston.
Orioles: Following a day off, the Orioles resume their 10-game homestand Tuesday night against the AL East rival New York Yankees.
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