Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Adam Dunn hit a two-run single in the first
inning and Chris Sale did the rest as the Chicago White Sox eked past the
struggling Kansas City Royals, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game series
The Royals, hoping to continue their recent success at U.S. Cellular Field,
ran into a buzzsaw in Sale, who tossed seven innings of one-run ball in
lowering his ERA to 2.03 on the year.
Sale (9-1) scattered seven hits and a walk while fanning eight as Chicago came
away victorious for the fourth time in six games.
"I felt really good tonight," Sale said. "These are the dog days, and we have
to bear down now."
Kansas City, which had won 10 of its previous 11 as the visitor in this AL
Central series, has scored just 17 runs during a 1-7 slump.
Jeremy Guthrie (5-9) settled down after a rough start but still took the loss,
having allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over six frames.
Adam Eaton led off the home first with a base hit, Guthrie plunked Alexei
Ramirez, and Jose Abreu reached on a Danny Valencia error to load the bases.
Dunn beat the shift with a base hit up the middle to plate a pair, and even
though Guthrie limited the damage to just those two runs, it was enough
support for Sale.
The only run the Royals produced off the stingy lefty came in the fourth when
Alex Gordon singled, stole second with two away and scored on Valencia's base
hit to center.
Alcides Escobar followed with a double down the left-field line, and Valencia
nearly scored the tying run but was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay
between Alejandro De Aza and Ramirez.
The White Sox added an insurance run in the sixth, as they loaded the bases
and watched Dunn avoid Brett Hayes' swipe tag on Gordon Beckham's sacrifice
fly to center. Jarrod Dyson's throw home was up the line, and replay confirmed
Hayes narrowly missed the slow-moving Dunn before he crossed the plate.
Sale stranded a pair in the sixth by striking out Valencia and Escobar, then
retired the side in the seventh before giving way to the bullpen.
"He's one of the best pitchers in the league," Valencia said of Sale. "He's
got three really good pitches."
Ronald Belisario hurled a 1-2-3 eighth, and Jake Petricka tossed a scoreless
ninth to post his fourth save of the year.
Game Notes
Sale has allowed three runs or less in 14 of his 15 starts this season ...
Abreu doubled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 12 games ...
Guthrie came in 4-0 in his previous five games at U.S. Cellular Field with a
1.30 ERA.