Sale overpowers Orioles with dominating effort in Game 1 of doubleheader
The Chicago White Sox turned to their ace in hopes of giving their overworked bullpen a break.
Chris Sale delivered by throwing one of his best outings of the year.
The White Sox left-hander dominated the Baltimore Orioles for 7 2/3 scoreless innings Thursday, punching out the side in the first and his final two batters in the eighth en route to a season-high 12 strikeouts with no walks and just four hits.
Zach Duke, who relieved Sale with two outs in the eighth, surrendered a two-run homer to Chris Davis in the ninth before Jake Petricka recorded the final out to secure the 3-2 win in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Sale (4-2) retired his first 10 batters and struck out five straight between the fifth and sixth innings, overpowering the Orioles all afternoon with a high 90s fastball and late-breaking slider.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Sale, who entered the start having completed eight innings in three consecutive outings, generated five punchouts alone off his slider in his second career start with at least 10 strikeouts and no runs or walks allowed.
The White Sox, who used multiple relievers in back-to-back games this week against the Toronto Blue Jays, entered Thursday's game having lost seven of their previous nine contests.