Sale fails at record bid, notches complete game in White Sox win

Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale had to settle for a consolation prize Monday.

The 26-year-old picked up his seventh win of the season after throwing a six-hit complete game, but failed to extend his double-digit strikeout streak to a ninth consecutive start during a 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sale, who struck out six in the outing, would have been the first pitcher in major league history to strikeout at least 10 batters in nine straight starts. Instead, he shares the record of eight consecutive starts with Hall of Fame electee Pedro Martinez.

"You think about it before, but once you get out there everything is kind of out the window," Sale said of the streak. "You're just trying to battle as hard as you can, fill up innings and leave your team with a chance to win."

Coming off a 12-strikeout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sale battled the league's highest scoring offense Monday and didn't record a K until the third inning when he got Devon Travis looking on a 97-mph fastball.

Despite falling short on taking sole possession of the record, Sale now sits in a tie with Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the league lead with 147 strikeouts.