Levine: Chris Sale Ties Major League Strikeout Record, But Sox Lose 8th Straight
By Bruce Levine --
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The White Sox's long losing streak almost came to an end with a major league record-tying performance from ace Chris Sale on Friday night.
Chicago had lost seven straight before Sale's dominance led it to a 1-0 lead against Texas going into the ninth inning. After 111 pitches this time out for Sale, to go with 125 in his last start, manager Robin Ventura wisely went with his closer David Robertson for the ninth.
For a snakebit team that has trouble scoring runs, the move turned out badly. Robertson surrendered a two-run single to Mitch Moreland that turned out to be a game-winner in a 2-1 win for Texas.
The pressure on the good Chicago pitching staff has been heavy all season. The White Sox have averaged just 2.4 runs per game during their last 15 and 3.6 all season. That lack of production has put a heavy load on Sale and the rest of the staff.
"As soon as he swung, I knew it was a hit," Robertson somberly admitted. "It is frustrating. I feel awful because I watched Sale pitch like that tonight, and I went out there and blew it. I am supposed to pick the guys up and I just could not nail down the ninth today."
I asked Sale if he thought the pitchers felt that they almost have to throw a shutout on the day they pitch. He wasn't happy.
"That is a crappy question to ask," Sale said, admonishing me for the insinuation. "If you think I would say something bad about one of my teammates, you're dead wrong. We have a bunch of fighters in here. We have guys coming in her every single day playing as hard as they can. That is plain and simple. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Tonight it didn't and it hasn't for a few games. We aren't going to point a finger at anyone. We are a team, a family and we are going to move forward. This is going to stop. It is. We are going to win a game and from that point forward win some more games."
Duly noted, and maybe my question could have been better phased, but the reaction from the fiery Sale showed the passion he has for his teammates and the bonding that takes place even in losing locker rooms among professional ballplayers.
"We are definitely pulling from the same rope on the same side," Sale said when I asked him about the team coming together in hard times.
"Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but you can't stop pulling."
Sale did something only accomplished by two other pitchers, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez, in major league history. The 26-year-old flame thrower struck out 12 hitters or more for the fifth straight time. Sale fanned 14 Ranger hitters Friday night and threw eight shutout innings, allowing two hits and walking nobody.
His frustration was for the team, not about getting a no-decision after another brilliant performance.
"What Sale has done over the last few games has been pretty special," Moreland said. "Any time you can get a guy like that out of the game, you are happy about it."
The White Sox have their longest losing streak since July of 2013, when they lost nine straight.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
